Brande L. Gustafson
Senior Associate Attorney
Brande Gustafson practices civil litigation with an emphasis on civil rights defense and personal injury defense. She defends public entities and their employees in complex high profile cases involving various aspects of public entity liability in State and Federal courts. Her clients have included school districts, police officers, deputy sheriffs, correctional officers, probation officers, elected and other public figures, including sheriffs, chiefs of police, and heads of public agency departments.
Prior to becoming an attorney, Brande worked as a contract paralegal for the United States Attorney's Office in the Eastern District of California managing case materials for affirmative civil litigation. During her time as a contract paralegal, she participated in litigation involving wildland fire cases; Internal Revenue Service tax summons enforcement; and enforcement of criminal restitution, special assessments, and fines.
Bar Admissions
U.S. Supreme Court
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California
U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
All courts of the State of California
Professional Activities and Affiliations
Magistrate Judge Merit Selection Panel, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California
2015 and 2017
Federal Bar Association
2017 President
2016 Vice President/President Elect
2014-2015 Secretary
Judicial Advisory Committee
2017-2019 Member-at-Large
Ninth Circuit Lawyer Representative
2019-2023
Fresno County Bar Association, Member
Fresno County Women Lawyers, Member
San Joaquin College of Law Alumni Association
2014-2015 President
Honors and Recognition
2015-2019 - Named as a Rising Star in Northern California
Education
Juris Doctor, 2009
San Joaquin College of Law
Bachelor of Science, 2005
Criminology (Emphasis in Victimology)
Minor in Spanish
California State University, Fresno