Articles Posted by Savannah Blackwell

Savannah Blackwell spent 14 years covering government and politics for various newspapers -- more than half of that time at the San Francisco Bay Guardian -- before enrolling at UC Berkeley's School of Law in Fall, 2006. After earning a masters in journalism from Columbia University in 1992, she worked for the Philadelphia Inquirer -- moving on to the Tallahassee Democrat in 1994. Following a brief stint at the Valley Times, part of the Contra Costa Times chain, she joined the Bay Guardian in 1996 where she covered City Hall and devoted herself to exposing the wheeling and dealing of former mayor Willie Brown. She also represented the Bay Guardian weekly on the SF Newshour cable television show. After Mayor Gavin Newsom was inaugurated in Jan. 2004, she became the editor of the SFProgressive.com and in late 2005 went to work for the Daily Journal, which covers legal affairs. Since earning her J.D. and passing the California Bar examination, she has worked in the offices of the San Francisco and Solano County Public Defender and handled First Amendment litigation in federal courts. She currently researches and writes briefs and appeals for criminal defense attorneys.

  • Criminal Injustice

    by Savannah Blackwell on May 14, 2014 | No Comments

    The San Francisco Public Defender’s 11th annual Justice Summit focused on “things that can cause innocent people to be convicted.”

    Posted in Crime, Law, News, Politics

  • 2011 Justice Summit: An Ode to Criminal Defense

    by Savannah Blackwell on May 25, 2011 | 8 Comments

    In his opening remarks at his annual summit on criminal justice on May 18, San Francisco Public Defender Jeff Adachi assured the audience that this year’s conference was to be “by far, the most exciting” of the seven he has organized and hosted.

    Posted in News, Politics

  • This is currently a hot topic

    Chiu’s Path to the Board Presidency Revealed

    by Savannah Blackwell on Jan 21, 2009 | 27 Comments

    In the days following the election of a new Board president on January 8, political activists and observers speculated that the seven rounds of voting – ending in the selection of newly-minted District Three Supervisor David Chiu – was the result of a carefully orchestrated plan.

    Posted in News, Politics

  • This is currently a hot topic

    Battle for the Board’s Helm

    by Savannah Blackwell on Dec 01, 2008 | 41 Comments

    Once the final results of ranked choice voting for district supervisors ended three weeks ago and it was assured that progressives had held on to a majority of the board’s seats, discussion turned to which among them should serve as president.

    Posted in News, Politics

  • No Ground Lost

    by Savannah Blackwell on Nov 10, 2008 | 4 Comments

    Savannah Blackwell Despite a multi-million dollar campaign against their candidates and interests, progressives hold on to their power in San Francisco By Savannah Blackwell November 10, 2008 Roughly 24-hours after the polls closed in San…

    Posted in News, Politics

  • Daly victory saves the soul of San Francisco

    by Savannah Blackwell on Nov 07, 2006 | No Comments

    Incumbent Supervisor Chris Daly and wife, Sarah Low Daly, take to the stage at the DNA Lounge in the heartland of San Francisco’s District 6 to announce a momentous victory over big money and dirty…

    Posted in News, Politics