Gettleman was born in Atlantic City, New Jersey and moved with his family to Miami, Florida at a young age.

He received a Juris Doctor from Northwestern University School of Law in 1968.

He was a staff law clerk for the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit in 1968.

He was a law clerk for Judge Latham Castle of the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit from 1968 to 1969.

He was a law clerk for Judge Luther Merritt Swygert of the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit in 1970.