DeWitt M. Lacy

MANAGING PARTNER / LEAD TRIAL COUNSEL

dewitt lacy national lawyer
dewitt lacy national lawyer

DeWitt M. Lacy has spent his career at the absolute forefront of high-stakes civil rights litigation. Driven by a relentless mission to uphold constitutional liberties and confront institutional abuse, his work directly targets police misconduct, excessive force, and wrongful death caused by public agencies and state actors. He does not manage files for quick settlements—he spearheads trial teams to win justice.

Where harm or wrongful death has resulted from the action or inaction of public actors, Mr. Lacy does not rest until he holds powerful entities accountable. As a testament to his courtroom capabilities, he secured a $1.76M jury verdict for clients subjected to police misconduct in the City of Santa Clara. His formidable trial skills are matched by his strategic negotiation power, having secured a $3.0M settlement from the City of Torrance, a $1.6M settlement from the City of Antioch, and a $950,000 settlement from the County of Alameda.

For Mr. Lacy, financial recovery is a consequence of accountability—justice is always the true objective. Complementary to his aggressive legal practice, he actively works to protect communities by educating the public on their civil liberties. As the founder of Good and Common, an initiative dedicated to civil rights education, he regularly translates complex legal battles into national media commentary and sharp legal analysis.

Mr. Lacy’s legal prowess is anchored by a deep foundational background in diverse litigation, media analysis, and public advocacy, including serving as a legal analyst for Bloomberg and managing his own independent practice. Today, he commands the firm’s trial architecture with an unyielding commitment to securing justice for his clients and forcing institutional change.

Areas of Practice:

  • Civil Rights & Constitutional Liberties
  • Excessive Force & Police Misconduct Litigation
  • Wrongful Death Caused by Public Agencies
  • Catastrophic Injury & Public Sector Accountability

Admissions:

  • State Bar of California (2007)
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern, Eastern, and Central Districts of California

Education & Prior Background :

  • Golden Gate University School of Law, Juris Doctor (J.D.) (May 2005)
  • San Francisco State University, B.A., Speech and Communications (May 2000)
  • Founder, Good and Common Civil Rights Initiative
  • Former Legal Analyst, Bloomberg

Membership & Activities :

  • California Association of Black Lawyers
  • Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles
  • Consumer Attorneys of California
  • National Bar Association
  • Black Law Students Association, President 2003 – 2004
  • Mock Trial Competition Team, 2004 – 2005

Recognition & Awards

Media & Publications

 

Feb 13, 2021 Court TV

Feb. 9, 2021 Court TV

Feb 3, 2021 BET

Jan 26, 2021 Court TV

Jan 18, 2021 KTVU

Jan 8, 2021 Meaww

JAN-DEC 2020 Dec 25, 2020 ABC 7

Dec 17, Jamaica Gleaner

Dec 9, Court TV

Dec 7, San Diego Union Tribune

Dec 7, CBS8

Dec 7, KPBS

Nov 27, USA Today

Nov 27, Geek Buzz

Nov 25, Court TV

Nov, 10 Law and Crime

Nov 2, Court TV

Oct 22, Court TV

Oct 16, Edhat

Oct 16, Santa Barbara News Press

Oct 16, KEYT

Oct 15, Santa Barbara Independent

Oct 15, Noozhawk

Oct 15, Inside Edition

Video:

Oct 13, Pasadena Now

Sep 14, Court TV

July 30, Court TV

July 9, Court TV

July 7, Law and Crime

June 26, Law and Crime

June 19, Law and Crime

June 17, 2020, Court Tv

June 10, 2020 Law and Crime

June 9, 2020, Court TV

June 10, 2020, Mercury News

June 9, 2020, San Gabriel Valley Tribune

June 5, 2020, Star Tribune

June 1, Court TV

May 22, 2020, WitnessLA

May 11, 2020 CourtTV

May 11, 2020 CourtTV, 13th Juror segment

April 17, CourtTV

April 16, Livermore Independent

March 26, Livermore Independent

Jan 31, 2020, New York Post

January 29, 2020,NBC 3 KCRA:

January 28, 2020, Free Thought Project:

January 28, 2020, Univision 19:

January 27, 2020, ABC 10:

Oct. 9, 2019, Bakersfield.com

Oct. 8, 2019, KGET

Oct. 1, 2019, WitnessLA

Sep 26, 2019, Orange County Register

Aug. 27, 2019, Daily Journal

Aug. 20, 2019, USA Today

Aug. 20, 2019, WitnessLA

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