Rachel Mintz

John Feinblatt is an American lawyer and activist dedicated to gun violence prevention. He currently leads Everytown for Gun Safety and its media outlet, The Trace. Raised in New York, Feinblatt pursued higher education at Wesleyan University and earned his law degree from Catholic University of America.

His career began in legal services and included work with New York's Victims Services agency. Feinblatt was instrumental in establishing the Midtown Community Court, an initiative focused on minor offenses. He later served as chief policy advisor and criminal justice coordinator for New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, employing data analytics to improve agency operations and advise on policy. Feinblatt's involvement with Bloomberg began in 2001 through a data system he developed for the Center for Court Innovation, which he founded in 1996 and which later received an award from Harvard Kennedy School.

Feinblatt has also held positions at Safe Horizon, The Legal Aid Society, and the Vera Institute of Justice. He co-authored the book "Good Courts: The Case for Problem-Solving Justice." In his personal life, Feinblatt was married to Bradley Mintz in one of New York's early same-sex Jewish weddings following the legalization of same-sex marriage.

John Feinblatt is a prominent figure in gun control advocacy in the United States. He serves as the president of Everytown for Gun Safety, a significant organization focused on preventing gun violence. Under his leadership, Everytown also supports The Trace, a media outlet dedicated to reporting on firearms and gun policy. Feinblatt's work with these organizations places him at the forefront of policy discussions and public awareness campaigns related to gun safety and violence reduction. His career trajectory reflects a consistent commitment to public service and policy reform, particularly within the criminal justice and public safety spheres.

Feinblatt's professional background is deeply rooted in the legal field and public service. He started his career as a legal services lawyer and later worked with New York's Victims Services agency. A significant achievement was his role in founding and leading the Midtown Community Court in the 1990s, an innovative approach to addressing minor offenses. During Michael Bloomberg's mayoralty, Feinblatt acted as chief policy advisor and criminal justice coordinator, leveraging data analytics to enhance governmental operations. His earlier experience includes roles at Safe Horizon, The Legal Aid Society, and the Vera Institute of Justice, demonstrating a broad engagement with the justice system and social services.

In 1996, John Feinblatt established the Center for Court Innovation, an organization dedicated to developing new approaches within the justice system. This venture marked a pivotal point in his career, allowing him to implement data-driven strategies and problem-solving justice models. The Center's work gained recognition, including an Innovations in American Government award from Harvard Kennedy School in 1998. Feinblatt's collaboration with Mayor Michael Bloomberg also originated from this period, stemming from a data terminal system he developed for the Center, highlighting his early contributions to technological applications in public administration and justice reform.