LoStracco Interview - NyJa Stevenson

“I get the exciting topics like sex, drugs and alcohol,” Nicole LoStracco said as she explained her involvement with Stephen F. Austin State University. LoStracco is a local attorney who frequently gives lectures on the legal procedures and consequences that can occur when students face charges such as drinking under the influence, hazing, rape, assault, or theft.
Prosecuting, defending and lecturing, LoStracco has played an active roll in the welfare of the Nacogdoches community. Now, she is campaigning for the District Attorney position in Nacogdoches county.

LoStracco’s journey to becoming a candidate for the district attorney position began over 10 years ago. After she graduated from Mills College, a liberal arts women’s university in her hometown of San Francisco, she entered law school at Texas Tech University. Although she can’t recall the ultimate factor in her decision to pursue law, she said, “I have law in my family.” LoStracco’s father and godfather were both attorneys, which sparked her interest in law.

After taking a few classes at the university, she focused on a specialization in family law, which includes divorce and custody disputes. “I just really liked the classes on family law,” she said. While attending Texas Tech she met her husband, James R. Lostracco, a native of Nacogdoches.

After graduation and marriage, the couple moved to Nacogdoches. LoStracco couldn’t find work as a family law attorney. “The openings for a family attorney in a small town are limited,” she said. She ended up accepting a position in the district attorney’s office under Tim James, the then district attorney.

LoStracco prosecuted for women’s violence cases for three years. She then began concentrating on child assault cases for the next eight years.

In 2004 she left the district attorney’s office to become a criminal defense lawyer. Some people may find the switch ironic, but LoStracco thinks it was beneficial. She knows the tactics and can anticipate the goals of a prosecutor, which can help her be a better defender.

“All cases can’t be tried,” she said, “Many plea bargain. The fight I often go into as a defense attorney is lessening the punishment.”

The only challenge she found in being a defense lawyer is deciding what she is willing to handle or who she will represent. “I will not defend child sex offenders. I have two small children,” she said.

Two years ago she chose to run for District Attorney. “People came to me asking my opinion on what was happing with our court system,” she said. In a roundabout way, various people suggested that she run for the office. “I thought they were joking,” she said. But the people were serious and it forced her to take a look at the court system.

The numbers and the managerial decisions prompted her to run for the position. “The win rate numbers are low and certain managerial decisions could be made better,” she said. Although LoStracco doesn’t doubt the capability of the current district attorney, she said, “There is a difference in being a good lawyer and managing the office.”

Unlike many political races, both candidates are Republican and are working together to maintain a clean campaign. “We don’t want to make this a personal attack,” she said. If elected, LoStracco will take office in January 2009.