LoStracco Interview - Sam Arnold

Nicole LoStracco, local defense attorney and current republican candidate for the District Attorney’s position in Nacogdoches County, has become a formidable asset to the community as an active voice in the line of women’s and child abuse.

LoStracco has been a citizen of the Nacogdoches community for well over 15 years, having come to the Piney Woods of East Texas upon receiving her law degree from the Texas Tech University Law School, which ranks high annually in the nations ranking of law programs. LoStracco even managed to graduate six months early from the program. her reason being her husband James R. LoStracco, a Nacogdoches native, is also a graduate of Texas Tech Law School, with whom she has two children, Juliette 4, and Trey 2. “I can’t remember why I applied to law school, but my father and godfather are both involved in law, so I suppose that may have been a part of it.”

With her light brown hair and fairly dark complexion, LoStracco originally hails from the capital of west coast glamour, San Francisco. Her father relocated early on in her life to the essence of Europe itself, Brussels, Belgium. She spent five years of her life overseas, until finally moving back to San Francisco where she would rode the remainder of her high school career. LoStracco received her undergraduate degree from Mills College in Oakland, a liberal arts women’s university, and a school considered to be one of the top three universities for undergraduates within the state of California.

Despite her nativity in the fast paced city life, she has never considered herself at home in the city, she said “I was never a city girl, I have always been an avid horseback rider, and outdoors person.” These, among other reasons, were why she chose the state of Texas to receive her law degree, and finally settle down for good in Nacogdoches.

LoStracco began her law career in Lufkin practicing family law. After a year, she began working as a district attorney’s assistant. At the time, her position was not funded as an attorney, and received a paralegals pay. She spent three years prosecuting, the majority of her cases involving women abuse, and child sexual assault.

“It was very satisfying, I admit to being emotional at times, but at the end of the day, helping the people who need it satisfies me the most,” she said. On the subject of children’s cases, she said “For whatever reason, children are often easier to work with in the court rooms as they have no reason to hide anything once on the stand.”

In October 2004, LoStracco switched sides when she opened her own law practice, which handles criminal defense. She admits that her new line of work is very challenging, as she tries to garner the best sentence possible for the people she represents.

Upon discussing her law firm she said “People usually come in and admit to it, and we try to get the best possible deal for the crime. Hopefully we can convince the judge or jury to lessen the blow on punishments.” This sort of focus requires her to know the intimate details of a crime, and not all cases are accepted on her behalf, she said “If a clients personality clashes with my own, I normally will not accept their case, as I need to be able to work with a client in order to help them. All the secrets, and all the skeletons in closet must be brought forth, in order for me to do anything at all.” She admittedly does not handle child defense, but has secured several child abuse cases. Referring back to her days working in the D.A.’s office, she said “It’s very easy to tell what is going on when a child tells their side of the story.”

Not only is Lostracco active in the Nacogdoches law arena, she has spear-headed several on campus presentations, discussing the dangers of rock and roll’s greatest hits, “Sex, Drugs, and Alcohol” as well as speaking against the archaic hazing rituals new fraternity members go through, and the circumstance of date rape as well. Never shy, or at a loss for words, LoStracco said, “There is nothing worse than a nervous speaker. I will say anything, I am fearless if you will.”

Her approach to these societal taboos has been met with critical acclaim, as there are few subjects absent from her speeches. Her west coast personality may be a factor in these programs, as she said, “I am very approachable and laid back.”
She hopes to educate the student body as a whole as far as their legal rights are concerned. “Many students don’t know what not to do when dealing with the police.” She wishes to engage in a program that would help students in this realm of the law, even going so far as to teach students how to clean up a less than stellar record.

With her roots in law as a child, and moving up through the ranks as a successful prosecutor, as well as a defense attorney, she now has her eye on the seat of District Attorney.

LoStracco said “When I first began in the D.A’s office we were averaging 70 percent on all of our cases in the win column. Since then, the numbers have steadily declined.”

She is currently running an amicable and clean campaign against the current incumbent, as they are real life friends outside of the political stage. LoStracco gives credit the citizens of Nacogdoches for urging her on to take up the position. If she however is unsuccessful in her campaign, she will continue working steadily, representing those in need of a good defense. She does not consider herself a politician, but feels she is more than capable of representing the taxpayers of this community.