Judge Theresa M. Traber

Judge Theresa M. Traber sits at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse in Los Angeles County, having been appointed to the Los Angeles Superior Court by Governor Jerry Brown on November 18, 2015. She received her legal education at Northeastern University School of Law. Her appointment background places her within a cohort of Brown-era judicial appointees known for their selection through a merit-based review process. The notable cases attributed to Judge Traber span a range of high-profile civil matters. In 2022, she allowed an LAUSD Muslim employee's discrimination suit to proceed to trial, signaling a willingness to permit employment discrimination claims to survive dispositive motions when factual disputes remain. In 2026, she presided over a case involving an LAPD captain accused of deleting texts relevant to a Black Lives Matter lawsuit, a matter implicating evidence spoliation and civil rights accountability. She also presided over proceedings connected to Kanye West's legal matters, including ordering payment of $76,000, demonstrating her handling of high-profile entertainment and civil enforcement matters. Based on the available case data, Judge Traber has demonstrated engagement with civil rights, employment discrimination, and evidence integrity issues. Her rulings in the LAUSD and LAPD matters reflect a court that takes seriously both the threshold for trial and the obligations of parties to preserve evidence. Attorneys appearing before her should be prepared for a judge who engages substantively with factual records and holds parties accountable for litigation conduct.

Attorneys appearing before Judge Traber should be prepared for rigorous scrutiny of the factual record, particularly in employment discrimination and civil rights matters. Her 2022 ruling allowing the LAUSD Muslim employee's suit to proceed to trial indicates she evaluates summary judgment and dispositive motions with attention to genuine disputes of material fact rather than resolving credibility questions at the pleading or motion stage. Plaintiffs' counsel in discrimination cases should ensure the factual record is fully developed and clearly presented; defense counsel should not assume dispositive motions will succeed without airtight evidentiary support. The LAPD text-deletion case signals that Judge Traber takes evidence preservation obligations seriously. Attorneys must ensure their clients have compliant litigation holds in place before appearing in her courtroom. Any suggestion of spoliation or discovery misconduct will draw heightened judicial attention. Counsel should proactively address any gaps in the documentary record and be prepared to explain chain-of-custody and preservation steps if challenged. In matters involving financial enforcement — as illustrated by the Kanye West payment order — Judge Traber has demonstrated a willingness to issue concrete monetary directives. Attorneys seeking enforcement of judgments or sanctions should come prepared with precise calculations and supporting documentation. Opposing counsel should be ready to respond to enforcement motions with equally specific financial records.

• critical

  Document Your Litigation Hold and Preservation Steps

  Given the LAPD text-deletion case, Judge Traber scrutinizes evidence preservation. Prepare a clear record of when and how your client implemented a litigation hold, and be ready to present it if challenged.

• critical

  Build a Complete Factual Record for Dispositive Motions

  Her 2022 LAUSD ruling shows she will deny dispositive relief when factual disputes remain. Both sides must ensure the evidentiary record is fully developed and that arguments address the specific facts rather than relying on legal conclusions alone.

• important

  Prepare Precise Financial Documentation for Enforcement Matters

  The $76,000 payment order demonstrates she issues specific monetary directives. Any motion involving financial relief or enforcement should be supported by itemized, documented calculations.

• important

  Research Employment Discrimination and Civil Rights Precedents

  Her notable cases cluster in employment discrimination and civil rights. Attorneys in these areas should ensure their briefs engage with the controlling statutory and case law frameworks she has applied.

• important

  Anticipate Discovery Conduct to Be Scrutinized

  The LAPD matter involving deleted texts signals that discovery conduct is a live issue in her courtroom. Review your client's discovery compliance before any hearing.

• ›Come prepared with a fully developed factual record; Judge Traber engages with the specifics of the evidence rather than accepting generalized arguments.
• ›Address evidence preservation and discovery compliance proactively — do not wait for opposing counsel to raise spoliation issues.
• ›Support all financial requests and enforcement motions with precise, itemized documentation rather than estimates or approximations.
• ›Treat civil rights and employment discrimination claims with substantive seriousness; the record indicates she applies these frameworks rigorously.