Tracy Gastelum
Partner
Overview
Ms. Tracy Gastelum is a Partner in the Public Entity Practice Group at Lynberg & Watkins. She represents public entities, law enforcement agencies, correctional institutions, and individual officers in civil rights, constitutional, and government liability litigation in state and federal courts. With more than 17 years of legal experience, including 15 years as a Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney and service on a national tactical police litigation team, Ms. Gastelum brings extensive trial and litigation experience to the defense of high-exposure matters involving excessive force, wrongful death, in-custody incidents, officer misconduct, negligent supervision, and other claims arising under federal and state law. She has successfully handled all phases of litigation, from pre-suit investigations through trial and appeal, and has achieved favorable results in complex matters, including obtaining early resolutions in wrongful death and use-of-force cases that substantially reduced public entity exposure and litigation costs.
As a Deputy District Attorney for Los Angeles County, Ms. Gastelum prosecuted a broad range of felony matters, including violent crimes, gang-related offenses, sexual assaults, prison crimes, and complex fraud cases. Her assignments included the Lifer Unit, AB 109 Parole Revocation Courts, and Juvenile Delinquency Courts, where she gained extensive courtroom experience and developed a comprehensive understanding of the criminal justice system. Throughout her prosecutorial career, she worked closely with the Los Angeles County Probation Department, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services, and the Los Angeles County Office of County Counsel. She was recognized as Prosecutor of the Month for her successful prosecution of a complex sexual assault case.
Ms. Gastelum has also presented legal training and continuing education seminars for numerous law enforcement agencies, including the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, Los Angeles Police Department, Torrance Police Department, Inglewood Police Department, and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Her presentations have focused on constitutional policing, search and seizure, warrant preparation and execution, juvenile law, evidentiary issues, and other legal topics impacting law enforcement operations and risk management.
In addition, Ms. Gastelum has taught law courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels for more than a decade and served as National Advisor for the development of a Mental Health Law curriculum for The Chicago School of Professional Psychology.
Tracy’s personal interests include literature, live music, travel, and teaching/mentorship.
General
Practice Areas
Education
Legal
- – Juris Doctor
- Southwestern Law School, CA
- 2008
Undergraduate
- – Bachelor of Arts
- University of California, Berkeley
- 2002
Professional
Bar Affiliations
- – State Bar of California
- – United States District Court, California, Central District