Attorney Jovan Blacknell is an aggressive trial attorney specializing in criminal defense and civil litigation. He has been practicing law in Southern California for nearly 10 years. He began his legal career in California working for a Downtown Los Angeles civil litigation firm. He then worked for many years as a Los Angeles County Deputy Public Defender. There he honed his trial advocacy skills, trying nearly 100 cases to jury trial. He has received NOT GUILTY verdicts in multiple murder trials, including California's most serious crime of Special Circumstance Murder. Mr. Blacknell has earned acquittals for clients in cases involving serious and violent felonies, strike offenses, sex crimes, domestic violence, driving under the influence (DUI), gun charges, gang charges, and drug cases. Additionally he has earned acquittals in many misdemeanor cases including prostitution, vehicle theft, domestic violence, sexual assault, and child abuse.

Over the years, Mr. Blacknell has earned a reputation throughout Southern California as an exceptionally talented trial attorney who obtains great results. For example, he represented a Lynwood, CA man who was charged with first degree murder. The man was observed by police officers loading a three day old decomposed human body into the back of a SUV with a can of gasoline. The man claimed he acted in self defense. Attorney Jovan Blacknell received a NOT GUILTY verdict after trial, clearing the man of all criminal charges.

Mr. Blacknell is highly respected for his legal knowledge. He has been a guest speaker at several legal seminars throughout the years. In 2010 he was a featured speaker at a seminar for Los Angeles trial attorneys entitled, "Handling a Murder Trial." He also presented a training seminar to Los Angeles County Public Defenders and Alternate Public Defenders regarding how to handle felony trials. He was an expert panelist at a community outreach seminar presented by local minority legal organizations entitled, "What Do We Tell Our Sons About Treyvon Martin." Mr. Blacknell has appeared on local radio as a quest commentator answer local citizens legal questions.

Mr. Blacknell has experience handling civil litigation and family law matters. He has been involved in lawsuits against school administrators. His experience also includes handling civil rights, police brutality cases. In 2003, Mr. Blacknell clerked for a civil judge handling complex multi-million dollar civil litigation cases.

Mr. Blacknell earned a Bachelors of Science majoring in Finance with a minor in English Literature from Southern Illinois University. He earned a Juris Doctorate specializing in criminal law from Valparaiso University School of Law. Mr. Blacknell handles both State and Federal cases.