About Tracy
Tracy Prior is an award-winning attorney and proven prosecutor with nearly three decades of experience dedicated to protecting families and strengthening public safety.
As Chief Deputy District Attorney in the San Diego County District Attorney's Office, Tracy spearheaded the development and opening, and currently oversees operations of two Family Justice Centers, located in San Marcos and National City. These one-stop gateway victim services resource hubs have served almost 10,000 victims and families escaping and experiencing domestic violence, sexual assault, elder abuse, and human trafficking, providing improved access to resources and justice.
Tracy is an experienced litigator, having tried multiple complex jury trials involving murder, rape, child molestation, domestic violence, stalking, elder abuse, and internet crimes against children. Tracy has led multiple divisions of staff and trial attorneys, developing broad experience in complex criminal and public safety issues.
A nationally recognized authority on domestic violence, Tracy has testified before the United States Senate Judiciary Committee and the California Assembly Committee on Public Safety and continues to work to safeguard seniors, children, families, and animals. In her national role in the Women Prosecutor's Section of the National District Attorney's Association (NDAA), Tracy developed liaison partnership programming between the NDAA and the National Football League, Major League Baseball, and the National Basketball Association on issues of player and fan misconduct.
Tracy’s distinguished career has been recognized with numerous honors, including the National District Attorneys Association’s President’s Award for work in Child Abuse, a lifetime achievement award from the San Diego Domestic Violence Council, and the San Diego County Bar Association’s Public Sector Attorney of the Year Award in 2024.
Tracy is a native San Diegan, attended Bonita Vista High School, earned her Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies from UCLA and received her law degree from the University of San Francisco. Tracy grew up in a family of two public school teacher parents, who modeled and instilled the values of hard work, grit, determination and service over self.
Tracy brings a growth mindset to everything she does, recently pursuing and attaining her Public Leadership Credential from Harvard Kennedy School and a certificate from Stanford University Business School Executive Education's Prosecutor Leaders of Now program.
A committed advocate for first responders and military families, Tracy serves on the Board of Directors for the Buddy Bowl, a nonprofit supporting wounded warriors and first responders.
Tracy was honored and humbled to be tapped by the retiring Honorable Judge Daniel B. Goldstein to run for his judicial seat. Judge Goldstein has been a mentor to Tracy since she was a Deputy City Attorney between 1996-1998. Tracy served alongside Judge Goldstein when he was at the District Attorney’s office, and has appeared before Judge Goldstein in jury trials in his courtroom.
Tracy and her husband of 29 years are the proud parents of two teenage sons.
