Tiffiny Blacknell

Tiffiny Townend Blacknell[3] (born November 14, 1976) is an American criminal defense attorney, community activist, and an advocate for criminal justice reform. Blacknell currently works as a deputy public defender in the Los Angeles County Public Defender's office. In 2018, Blacknell was featured in Macy's “Find the Remarkable You” campaign which featured six women from different walks of professional life, including Becky Hammon and JoAnn Falletta.[4][5]

Tiffiny Blacknell
Born
Tiffiny Nicole Townend[1][2]

(1976-11-14) November 14, 1976[1]
Inglewood, California
EducationInglewood High School
California State University, Dominguez Hills (B.A.)
University of Southern California Law School (J.D.)
OccupationCriminal Defense Attorney
Partner(s)Jovan Blacknell

Blacknell has worked as a Deputy Public Defender in the Los Angeles County Public Defender's Office since 2003 and has handled high-profile cases. She was appointed to represent a man accused of kidnapping Daisy McCrackin.[6] Blacknell's husband, Jovan Blacknell, also works as a criminal defense attorney and has handled several high-profile cases.[7][8]

Interim public defender appointment

In 2018, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors appointed Nicole Tinkham as interim public defender. Blacknell helped organize an effort to put pressure on the Board of Supervisors to remove Tinkham because of her lack of criminal law experience.[9][10] Following the protests and public criticism, the Board appointed Ricardo Garcia who worked for years in the San Diego County Public Defender's office.[11]

Wiretap Scandal

In July 2018, Blacknell uncovered a secret recording operation inside of an attorney-client interview room.[12][13] It was later revealed that the operation had been set up by the Los Angeles Police Department in cooperation with a prosecutor from the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office.[14] In response to the scandal, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted to send a letter to then sheriff Jim McDonnell to stop the installation of audio-video recording devices inside of lock-up facilities at various criminal courthouses throughout Los Angeles County.[14] The Los Angeles Times responded to the scandal.[15]

Community activism

Bail reform

Blacknell has engaged in activism in the Los Angeles community. She advocated for the release black mothers as a part of the National Black Mama's Bail Out Day campaign. This was a part of the National Bail Out collective, a community-based movement striving to end pretrial detention and mass incarceration.[16] Blacknell believes that the money bail system is unjust and in need of reform.[17] At Community Coalition's People Power Convention, Blacknell said “Ninety-five percent of arrestees plead guilty,” and noted that “studies show that sexual assault and violence happen in the first seven days of an inmate’s incarceration.”[18]

Girls empowerment

Blacknell was the keynote speaker at the “I Matter” Girl Empowerment Conference at East Los Angeles College, aiming to create more female leaders in the community. In her speech, Blacknell discussed her journey to become an attorney. She spoke of being a child of the Crack epidemic surrounded by drugs and gangs and having to overcome feelings of self-doubt.[19]

References
  1. California Birth Index
  2. http://members.calbar.ca.gov/fal/LicenseeSearch/QuickSearch?FreeText=Townend&SoundsLike=false
  3. https://www.martindale.com/los-angeles/california/tiffiny-townend-blacknell-168643442-a/
  4. Carmona, Cecily (2017), "Women in professional services", Women Leadership in Emerging Markets, Routledge, pp. 216–243, doi:10.4324/9781315641959-8, ISBN 9781315641959
  5. Tierney, Tammy. "Macy's spotlights 'some extraordinary women'". www.bizjournals.com. Retrieved 2018-12-06.
  6. "3 suspects charged with kidnapping of 'Halloween' actress, beating of actor". ABC News. 2018-07-05. Retrieved 2018-12-06.
  7. "California attorney takes interest in Dontre Hamilton's death, flies to Milwaukee". FOX6Now.com. 2014-05-09. Retrieved 2018-07-26.
  8. "Jury acquits Palos Verdes Estates man of murder in suspected gang killing in South L.A. - The Homicide Report". homicide.latimes.com. Retrieved 2018-07-26.
  9. Gerber, Marisa. "L.A. County attorneys who represent indigent clients in criminal court protest their new boss". latimes.com. Retrieved 2018-12-06.
  10. "L.A. County Hires New Public Defender | California County News". www.californiacountynews.org. Retrieved 2018-12-06.
  11. Agrawal, Nina. "L.A. County hasn't had a public defender in 2 years. It just appointed one". latimes.com. Retrieved 2018-12-06.
  12. Agrawal, Nina. "LAPD, other authorities arranged courthouse recording that prompted confidentiality concerns, court document shows". latimes.com. Retrieved 2018-12-06.
  13. "Investigation Underway After Public Defender's Conversation Recorded". KNX 1070. 2018-07-25. Retrieved 2018-12-06.
  14. "LA County Supes Tell Sheriff McDonnell To Stop Helping the LAPD Record Potentially Compromising Attorney-Client Conversations |". Retrieved 2018-12-06.
  15. Board, The Times Editorial. "Bugging conversations between criminal defendants and their lawyers is bad news". latimes.com. Retrieved 2018-12-06.
  16. "Local Community Organization Bails Pregnant Black Mother Out of Jail for Mother's Day - Los Angeles Sentinel". Los Angeles Sentinel. 2018-05-17. Retrieved 2018-07-26.
  17. Jr, Martin Macias (2018-05-16). "Report: LA Takes in Billions of Bail Money From Minorities, Poor". Retrieved 2018-12-06.
  18. Staff, Wave (2018-06-14). "Community Coalition unveils People First Platform". Los Angeles Wave Newspapers. Retrieved 2018-12-06.
  19. Nguyen, Vicky (2018-11-16). "Girls Seek Opportunities At Empowerment Conference". Los Angeles Wave.
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