# Donna Tryfman *legal · Superior Court Judge, Office 131 · attorney* — November 3, 2026 General Election (2026-11-03), Los Angeles County, California Research pack generated 2026-10-30T23:52:30+00:00 by ballotscope. Summaries are LLM-generated from the linked originals and may contain errors; check the originals before relying on anything. Sources span 2020-10-27 to 2026-10-20. ## Overview (as of 2026-10-29, from 19 sources) Donna Tryfman is a Los Angeles County deputy public defender, in the office since 1998, who now handles capital homicide cases in its Major Cases Unit [Tryfman for Judge 2026 (campaign site); LA Times: Your guide to the L.A. County Superior Court Judge Office 131 election]. She faces Deputy Alternate Public Defender David Ross in the Office 131 runoff; the LA County Bar Association rated both, and both eliminated primary candidates, "Qualified" [LAist guide to the 2026 primary L.A. Superior Court Judge races; Endorsement: Donna Tryfman for Superior Court Office No. 131; Los Angeles County Superior Court Judges: Who's running in the Nov. 3 election and why it matters; LA Times: Your guide to the L.A. County Superior Court Judge Office 131 election]. Her campaign says she finished first in the June primary with 37% [Donna Tryfman campaign press release: first place in primary for Seat 131]. The Southern California News Group and Metropolitan News-Enterprise editorial boards endorsed her [MetNews endorsement: Donna Tryfman for Office No. 131; Endorsement: Donna Tryfman for Superior Court Office No. 131]; Knock LA's progressive guide recommended Ross and repeated unspecified accusations against her [Knock LA Voter Guide, June 2026: Judges]. Both sources that endorse her also report that some find her abrasive, while praising her preparation and fairness [MetNews endorsement: Donna Tryfman for Office No. 131; Endorsement: Donna Tryfman for Superior Court Office No. 131]. In her own words she describes the judge as a neutral arbiter, "not a policymaker or advocate" [Judicial Candidate Donna Tryfman Discusses Experience, Approach to the Bench]. Former DA Steve Cooley and ADA SoCal endorse both candidates [Americans for Democratic Action Southern California: judicial endorsements; Endorsement: Donna Tryfman for Superior Court Office No. 131]. ### Record highlights - Joined the LA County Public Defender in 1998; reports more than 100 jury trials and now handles capital homicide cases in the Major Cases Unit. [Tryfman for Judge 2026 (campaign site); Judicial Candidate Donna Tryfman Discusses Experience, Approach to the Bench; LA Times: Your guide to the L.A. County Superior Court Judge Office 131 election] - Deputy in charge at Eastlake Juvenile Court, 2016-2019, including collaborative drug court work. [Tryfman for Judge 2026 (campaign site); MetNews endorsement: Donna Tryfman for Office No. 131; LA Times: Your guide to the L.A. County Superior Court Judge Office 131 election] - President of the Public Defenders Association, 2015-2020; 2025 Gideon Award as felony attorney of the year. [Tryfman for Judge 2026 (campaign site); MetNews endorsement: Donna Tryfman for Office No. 131; LA Times: Your guide to the L.A. County Superior Court Judge Office 131 election] - Judge pro tem for traffic and small claims cases. [LA Times: Your guide to the L.A. County Superior Court Judge Office 131 election; Tryfman for Judge 2026 (campaign site)] - Beverly Hills Rent Stabilization Commission, 2019-2024, chair in 2022. [MetNews endorsement: Donna Tryfman for Office No. 131] - Her office performance evaluations rate her 'competent,' below 'exceeds expectations,' with written praise for taking the hardest felony cases. [MetNews endorsement: Donna Tryfman for Office No. 131] - As 2023 president of the Jewish Public Defenders Association, criticized Public Defender Ricardo Garcia's response to antisemitic posts by office staff; Garcia later endorsed her. [MetNews endorsement: Donna Tryfman for Office No. 131; Tryfman for Judge 2026 (campaign site)] - Ran unsuccessfully for the Beverly Hills school board in 2020; the Daily News credits her with scrutiny of district bond spending. [Meet the Candidate: Donna Tryfman; Endorsement: Donna Tryfman for Superior Court Office No. 131] - State Bar license active since June 1995, with no discipline shown. [State Bar of California attorney profile: Donna Tryfman] ### Stated positions - A judge should be a neutral arbiter applying the law consistently, not a policymaker or advocate (April 2026). [Judicial Candidate Donna Tryfman Discusses Experience, Approach to the Bench] - Pretrial detention should not be punitive; the test is return to court and public safety. [Judicial Candidate Donna Tryfman Discusses Experience, Approach to the Bench] - Supports diversion for nonviolent offenses when it addresses underlying causes; sentencing discretion should be explained. [Judicial Candidate Donna Tryfman Discusses Experience, Approach to the Bench] - Says she is running to be 'everyone's judge' and that judges should not represent factions or special interests (July-August 2026). [Donna Tryfman campaign press release: first place in primary for Seat 131; Editorial boards across Southern California unite behind Donna Tryfman for Superior Court] - Says 'Personal politics should not drive judicial decisions' and that she distinguishes advocacy from neutrality. [Endorsement: Donna Tryfman for Superior Court Office No. 131] ### Where sources disagree - Size of her Eastlake Juvenile Court staff: about 25 attorneys per her campaign and about two dozen per MetNews, versus 15 lawyers per the LA Times. [Tryfman for Judge 2026 (campaign site); MetNews endorsement: Donna Tryfman for Office No. 131; LA Times: Your guide to the L.A. County Superior Court Judge Office 131 election] - Her campaign says every identified newspaper editorial board that weighed in endorsed her; Knock LA's June guide recommended Ross. [Editorial boards across Southern California unite behind Donna Tryfman for Superior Court; Knock LA Voter Guide, June 2026: Judges] - The Daily News calls much of the criticism of her unsubstantiated; Knock LA repeats accusations against her without detail. [Endorsement: Donna Tryfman for Superior Court Office No. 131; Knock LA Voter Guide, June 2026: Judges] ### Gaps - No official election results in the sources; the 37% primary figure is her campaign's. - LACBA's own ratings page stored no text; the Qualified rating is confirmed through LAist, the Daily News, Colorado Boulevard and the LA Times. - No court filings, briefs or rulings by her, and no case-level record beyond MetNews's account. - No debate, forum transcript or unscripted interview. - No campaign finance records. - The Daily Journal bar-ratings story was blocked, and La Defensa's and Robyn Nordell's guides could not be fetched. ### Arguments for / praise - Deep trial experience on the most serious felony cases, trusted with capital defense. — *Metropolitan News-Enterprise, Los Angeles Daily News editorial board* [MetNews endorsement: Donna Tryfman for Office No. 131; Endorsement: Donna Tryfman for Superior Court Office No. 131] - Thoughtful, sharp and 'totally reasonable,' with a clear view of the judge's role. — *Los Angeles Daily News editorial board* [Endorsement: Donna Tryfman for Superior Court Office No. 131] - Judges who saw her in court call her prepared, practical, fair and credible. — *Metropolitan News-Enterprise (quoting judges)* [MetNews endorsement: Donna Tryfman for Office No. 131] - Endorsed across the spectrum, from Democratic clubs and labor to the deputy DAs' association, Steve Cooley and Crime Survivors PAC. — *Tryfman campaign* [Tryfman for Judge 2026 (campaign site); Donna Tryfman campaign press release: first place in primary for Seat 131] ### Arguments against / criticism - Her temperament: a colleague calls her 'caustic,' and even a supporter concedes 'abrasiveness or directness.' — *Metropolitan News-Enterprise (reporting others' views)* [MetNews endorsement: Donna Tryfman for Office No. 131] - Her blunt manner can bristle opponents. — *Los Angeles Daily News editorial board* [Endorsement: Donna Tryfman for Superior Court Office No. 131] - She 'faced allegations of misconduct' in her 2020 school board campaign and has been 'accused of harassing coworkers' over Gaza; no detail or outcome is given. — *Knock LA* [Knock LA Voter Guide, June 2026: Judges] - Ross is the more qualified and progressive choice. — *Knock LA* [Knock LA Voter Guide, June 2026: Judges] ## Analysis of their own words (as of 2026-10-29) Coverage: Five own-words samples: one written Q&A interview (CityWatch, April 2026, S3), two campaign press releases with her quotes (July and August 2026, S1-S2), her undated campaign site (S5), and a 2020 school-board candidate questionnaire (S4). All are prepared text; there is no unscripted speech, debate, transcript, brief or court filing. Nothing in her own words addresses a specific case she handled. Describes the judge as a neutral rule-applier rather than a policymaker, with individualized discretion at sentencing and in pretrial release. On criminal procedure she emphasizes the presumption of innocence, non-punitive bail tied to the legal standard of flight risk and public safety, and diversion for nonviolent offenses when it addresses underlying causes. She states no interpretive method (textualist or otherwise) and gives no view on precedent or deference. The evidence does not support a political label. Articulation: **adequate**. Prepared text only. Her bail and sentencing answers name the governing standards (return to court, public safety, low/middle/high terms, aggravating and mitigating factors) and are well structured (S3). Some passages are loose or ungrammatical ("The balance lay in fidelity to the law recognizing that discretion must be utilized consistently with a regard to individual facts," S3), and the press releases (S1, S2) are mostly slogans. She sidestepped the interview's question on campaign spending (S3). Consistency: **adequate**. Across the 2026 samples (S1-S3, S5) she repeats the same themes: neutrality, fairness, temperament, and being 'everyone's judge.' Career figures agree (25 years of defense work in 2020, S4; 'more than three decades' in 2026, S5). The window is short and all prepared, so consistency under questioning is untested. - Role of a judge: A neutral arbiter who applies the law consistently, not a policymaker or advocate. - "The proper role of a judge is to be a neutral arbiter who applies the law fairly and consistently." [Judicial Candidate Donna Tryfman Discusses Experience, Approach to the Bench] (2026-04-06) - "A judge’s role is not to be a policymaker or advocate." [Judicial Candidate Donna Tryfman Discusses Experience, Approach to the Bench] (2026-04-06) - Bail and pretrial detention: Detention should not be punitive; the test is return to court and public safety, with less restrictive conditions where they suffice. - "Pretrial custody decisions should not be based on punishment." [Judicial Candidate Donna Tryfman Discusses Experience, Approach to the Bench] (2026-04-06) - "Where conditions can assure public safety, I would consider a less restrictive means of detainment." [Judicial Candidate Donna Tryfman Discusses Experience, Approach to the Bench] (2026-04-06) - Sentencing: Follows statutory ranges; discretion lies in weighing aggravating and mitigating factors and should be explained. - "It must be exercised thoughtfully and consistently, with a clear explanation of the “why.”" [Judicial Candidate Donna Tryfman Discusses Experience, Approach to the Bench] (2026-04-06) - Diversion: Supports diversion for nonviolent offenses when it addresses root causes, decided case by case after hearing both sides. - "Diversion programs are an important dispositional tool for non-violent offenses." [Judicial Candidate Donna Tryfman Discusses Experience, Approach to the Bench] (2026-04-06) - Implicit bias and courtroom treatment: Acknowledges universal bias; commits to training, interpreters, pronoun use and plain-language explanations. - "Implicit bias is part of human nature." [Judicial Candidate Donna Tryfman Discusses Experience, Approach to the Bench] (2026-04-06) - "If a person feels heard, they do not feel invisible, even if a ruling did not go their way." [Judicial Candidate Donna Tryfman Discusses Experience, Approach to the Bench] (2026-04-06) - Judicial independence from factions: Judges should not represent special interests or constituencies. - "Judges should not be representatives of a political faction or special interest," [Editorial boards across Southern California unite behind Donna Tryfman for Superior Court] (2026-08-26) - "I am not running to be one group’s judge," [Donna Tryfman campaign press release: first place in primary for Seat 131] (2026-07-16) Limitations: No unscripted speech, debate or court filings; nothing shows how she handles contested questions in real time or how she has argued specific cases. The press releases and site are campaign products that may not be her own drafting. Criticisms of her temperament reported elsewhere cannot be assessed from her own words. ## Timeline (newest first) - **2026-10-20** — Published: LA Times: Your guide to the L.A. County Superior Court Judge Office 131 election (Los Angeles Times) - **2026-10-20** — LA Times publishes Office 131 guide (Los Angeles Times) - **2026-10-09** — Published: 2026 General Election: Recommendations for L.A. County Superior Court Judges (Colorado Boulevard) - **2026-10-02** — Published: Los Angeles County Superior Court Judges: Who's running in the Nov. 3 election and why it matters (LAist) - **2026-08-26** — Published: Editorial boards across Southern California unite behind Donna Tryfman for Superior Court (Tryfman campaign (EIN Presswire)) - **2026-08-26** — Tryfman campaign release on editorial endorsements (Tryfman campaign (EIN Presswire)) - **2026-07-16** — Published: Donna Tryfman campaign press release: first place in primary for Seat 131 (Tryfman campaign (EIN Presswire)) - **2026-07-16** — Tryfman campaign release on primary result (Tryfman campaign (EIN Presswire)) - **2026-05-28** — Published: Robyn Nordell judicial recommendations (May 28, 2026) (Robyn Nordell) - **2026-05-19** — Published: Endorsement: Donna Tryfman for Superior Court Office No. 131 (Los Angeles Daily News (Southern California News Group)) - **2026-05-19** — Daily News editorial board endorses Tryfman (Los Angeles Daily News (Southern California News Group)) - **2026-05-11** — Published: LA County Superior Court judges recommendations 2026 (Colorado Boulevard) - **2026-05-09** — Published: Knock LA Voter Guide, June 2026: Judges (Knock LA) - **2026-05-09** — Knock LA publishes June primary judicial recommendations (Knock LA) - **2026-04-24** — Published: Judicial Elections Evaluation Committee Announces 2026 Ratings (Los Angeles County Bar Association) - **2026-04-20** — Published: LAist: LA County Bar Association ratings of 2026 Superior Court judicial candidates (LAist) - **2026-04-17** — Published: LAist guide to the 2026 primary L.A. Superior Court Judge races (LAist) - **2026-04-06** — Published: Judicial Candidate Donna Tryfman Discusses Experience, Approach to the Bench (CityWatch LA) - **2026-04-06** — CityWatch publishes Tryfman interview (CityWatch LA) - **2026-04-01** — Published: MetNews endorsement: Donna Tryfman for Office No. 131 (Metropolitan News-Enterprise) - **2026-04-01** — MetNews endorses Tryfman (Metropolitan News-Enterprise) - **2023-11-06** — JPDA letter under Tryfman's presidency criticizes Public Defender Garcia (Metropolitan News-Enterprise) - **2020-10-27** — Published: Meet the Candidate: Donna Tryfman (Patch) - **2020-10-27** — Patch publishes Tryfman school board candidate profile (Patch) - **2020** — Tryfman runs unsuccessfully for Beverly Hills school board (Los Angeles Daily News (Southern California News Group)) - **2008** — Court of Appeal affirms that sentence (Metropolitan News-Enterprise) - **2006-12-10** — LA Times column quotes Tryfman criticizing Judge Goul's sentence (Metropolitan News-Enterprise) - **1998** — Tryfman joins LA County Public Defender's office (Los Angeles Times) - **1995-06-12** — Admitted to the State Bar of California (State Bar of California) ## Sources ### LA Times: Your guide to the L.A. County Superior Court Judge Office 131 election - Los Angeles Times · voter guide · published 2026-10-20 · stance: neutral - LA Times guide to the Office 131 runoff: both Tryfman and Ross have extensive trial experience and LACBA 'Qualified' ratings. - Tryfman joined the public defender's office in 1998, has more than 100 jury trials, and focuses on capital homicide in the Major Cases Unit. - She supervised Eastlake Juvenile Court (15 lawyers, per the Times) and worked in its collaborative drug court; judge pro tem for traffic and small claims; 2025 Gideon felony attorney of the year. - Quotes her: experience matters, 'but so does how people are treated when they walk into a courtroom.' ### 2026 General Election: Recommendations for L.A. County Superior Court Judges - Colorado Boulevard · endorsement · published 2026-10-09 · stance: neutral - Colorado Boulevard's general-election judicial recommendations repeat the LACBA ratings: Ross and Tryfman both Qualified for Office 131. - Office 131 runoff: David Ross (Deputy Alternate Public Defender) and Donna Tryfman (Deputy Public Defender), both rated Qualified by LACBA. - Reference: L.A. County Superior Court Judges Recommendations: 2026 Primary ### Los Angeles County Superior Court Judges: Who's running in the Nov. 3 election and why it matters - LAist · voter guide · published 2026-10-02 · stance: neutral - LAist's general-election judges guide lists both Office 131 runoff candidates with occupation, website and LACBA rating; both are rated Qualified. - Ross: deputy alternate public defender, County of Los Angeles; LACBA Qualified. - Tryfman: deputy public defender, County of Los Angeles; LACBA Qualified. - Endorsements are referred to the candidates' websites. - Reference: Ross State Bar profile - Reference: Tryfman State Bar profile - Reference: LACBA judicial elections evaluation ### Editorial boards across Southern California unite behind Donna Tryfman for Superior Court - Tryfman campaign (EIN Presswire) · position statement · published 2026-08-26 · stance: support - Tryfman campaign release claiming the endorsement of 'every identified newspaper editorial board that weighed in on the race,' with her comments. - Lists SCNG papers (Daily News, Daily Breeze, Press-Telegram and others), the Metropolitan News-Enterprise and Colorado Boulevard News. - Quotes Tryfman: 'Judges should not be representatives of a political faction or special interest.' - Reference: Daily News endorsement - Reference: MetNews endorsement - Reference: Colorado Boulevard primary recommendations ### Donna Tryfman campaign press release: first place in primary for Seat 131 - Tryfman campaign (EIN Presswire) · position statement · published 2026-07-16 · stance: support - Tryfman campaign press release announcing her first-place primary finish (37%) and listing endorsements. - 'I am running to be everyone's judge. Every person who enters a courtroom deserves to be heard, treated with dignity, and judged fairly under the law.' - Claims more than 100 trials, current special-circumstance homicide work, temporary judge service, and past Public Defenders Association presidency. - Lists endorsements from Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel, former DA Steve Cooley, labor (Carpenters, Unite Here 11, IBEW 11, Teamsters 25), the Association of Deputy District Attorneys, Democratic clubs, Crime Survivors PAC, and SCNG and MetNews editorial boards. - Says defeated primary rival Troy Slaten endorsed her. - Reference: Tryfman campaign site - Reference: Editorial boards release ### Robyn Nordell judicial recommendations (May 28, 2026) - Robyn Nordell · third party analysis · published 2026-05-28 · stance: unknown - ### Endorsement: Donna Tryfman for Superior Court Office No. 131 - Los Angeles Daily News (Southern California News Group) · endorsement · published 2026-05-19 · stance: support - The Southern California News Group (Daily News) editorial board endorses Tryfman for Office 131, calling her experienced and 'thoughtful, sharp and totally reasonable.' - All four primary candidates were rated Qualified by the LACBA. - The board found Tryfman's 'blunt, confident manner' can bristle opponents, and called much of the harsh criticism of her 'unsubstantiated claims circulated by a far-left congressional candidate.' - Quotes Tryfman: 'Personal politics should not drive judicial decisions,' and on the distinction 'between advocacy and neutrality.' - Credits her as a watchdog on Beverly Hills school bond spending; she lost a 2020 school board race. - Reference: Daily News LA County Superior Court endorsements roundup ### LA County Superior Court judges recommendations 2026 - Colorado Boulevard · third party analysis · published 2026-05-11 · stance: neutral - Colorado Boulevard's primary-election judicial recommendations list the LACBA rating for each candidate; all four Office 131 candidates, including Tryfman, are listed as Qualified. - Office 131: Carlos Dammeier, David Ross, Troy W. Slaten and Donna Tryfman, each rated Qualified by the LACBA committee. - The board's recommendations were marked with check marks that did not survive text extraction. ### Knock LA Voter Guide, June 2026: Judges - Knock LA · third party analysis · published 2026-05-09 · stance: support - Knock LA's progressive June 2026 judicial guide recommends David Ross for Seat 131 and mentions Tryfman only through allegations against her. - Recommends Ross as 'both the progressive choice and the most qualified candidate.' - Says Tryfman 'faced allegations of misconduct' in her 2020 Beverly Hills school board campaign and 'has been accused of harassing coworkers for their opposition to the genocide in Gaza.' ### Judicial Elections Evaluation Committee Announces 2026 Ratings - Los Angeles County Bar Association · bar evaluation · published 2026-04-24 · stance: not_applicable - ### LAist: LA County Bar Association ratings of 2026 Superior Court judicial candidates - LAist · bar evaluation · published 2026-04-20 · stance: neutral - LAist explainer on how the LA County Bar Association's Judicial Elections Evaluation Committee rates Superior Court candidates. It does not name or rate Tryfman or any Office 131 candidate. - Four tiers: Exceptionally Well Qualified (>75% of voting members), Well Qualified (>60%), Qualified (>50%), Not Qualified. - Candidates are rated individually, not against opponents; investigations are confidential and only the rating is public. - The 2026 committee has 40 members; candidates supply 50 to 75 references. - Reference: LAist 2026 general-election judges guide ### LAist guide to the 2026 primary L.A. Superior Court Judge races - LAist · voter guide · published 2026-04-17 · stance: neutral - LAist's primary-election judges guide lists all four Office 131 candidates; each is rated Qualified by the LACBA. - Office 131 (primary): Carlos Dammeier (ALJ, Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board), David Ross (deputy alternate public defender), Troy W. Slaten (ALJ, Department of Industrial Relations), Donna Tryfman (deputy public defender). - All four LACBA ratings: Qualified. - Reference: Tryfman campaign site ### Judicial Candidate Donna Tryfman Discusses Experience, Approach to the Bench - CityWatch LA · interview · published 2026-04-06 · stance: neutral - CityWatch LA written Q&A in which Tryfman sets out her view of the judge's role, bias, bail, sentencing, diversion and courtroom efficiency. - 'A judge's role is not to be a policymaker or advocate.' - Bail: 'Pretrial custody decisions should not be based on punishment'; the test is return to court and public safety. - Sentencing discretion 'must be exercised thoughtfully and consistently, with a clear explanation of the "why."' - Calls diversion 'an important dispositional tool for non-violent offenses' when it addresses underlying causes. ### MetNews endorsement: Donna Tryfman for Office No. 131 - Metropolitan News-Enterprise · endorsement · published 2026-04-01 · stance: support - The Metropolitan News-Enterprise endorses Tryfman as 'the clear choice' for Office 131, while reporting both praise and criticism of her temperament. - Her office performance rating is 'competent,' below 'exceeds expectations,' but she is assigned exclusively to capital cases in the Major Cases Unit. - Judges describe her as prepared, practical and fair; a colleague calls her personality 'caustic' and even a supporter concedes 'abrasiveness or directness.' - As 2023 president of the Jewish Public Defenders Association, she criticized Public Defender Ricardo Garcia over antisemitic posts in the office; Garcia later endorsed her. - In 2006 she called a client's 25-to-life sentence by Judge Richard Goul 'outrageous'; the sentence was affirmed in 2008, and Goul has endorsed Ross. ### Meet the Candidate: Donna Tryfman - Patch · position statement · published 2020-10-27 · stance: not_applicable - Tryfman's 2020 Patch questionnaire as a Beverly Hills Unified school board candidate, in her own words; it predates and does not concern the judicial race. - Top issues: returning to in-person school, speeding facilities construction, and bringing the Constitutional Rights Foundation mock trial program to the district. - Describes herself as an attorney with 'a critical, fact finding and analytical mind' and 'an advocate in my professional life.' - Cites service as Deputy in Charge at Eastlake juvenile delinquency court and on the Beverly Hills Rent Stabilization Commission. - Reference: Tryfman 2020 campaign site ### Americans for Democratic Action Southern California: judicial endorsements - Americans for Democratic Action - Southern California · endorsement · published undated · stance: support - Americans for Democratic Action Southern California's judicial endorsement page endorses both Ross and Tryfman for Seat 131, reprinting each campaign's biography. - ADA SoCal endorses David Ross for Seat 131. - ADA SoCal also endorses Donna Tryfman for Seat 131. - Reference: Ross campaign site - Reference: Tryfman campaign site ### The Ballot Brief: Donna Tryfman - The Ballot Brief · voter guide · published undated · stance: neutral - The Ballot Brief's AI-written profile of Tryfman summarizes her campaign site: Major Cases Unit homicide and capital work, past Public Defenders Association president. - Priorities per campaign site: fairness and due process; judicial experience and competence; ethical leadership. - Reference: Tryfman campaign site ### Blue Voter Guide: Donna Tryfman - Blue Voter Guide · voter guide · published undated · stance: neutral - Blue Voter Guide, a progressive endorsement aggregator, lists Tryfman's LACBA 'Qualified' rating and her endorsements from Democratic clubs and other groups. - Notes she was 'promoted by state level college Republican organization.' - General-election endorsers listed include Americans for Democratic Action SoCal, Mexican American Bar Association, Stonewall Democratic Club, Unite Here Local 11, NWPC LA County, PALAD, Torrance Democratic Club and Redlands Daily Facts. - Reference: LACBA 2026 ratings announcement - Reference: California College Republicans LA voter guide ### Two public defenders are running for judge; only one has demonstrated the temperament for the bench - CityWatch LA · third party analysis · published undated · stance: unknown - ### Tryfman for Judge 2026 (campaign site) - Tryfman for Judge 2026 · position statement · published undated · stance: support - Tryfman's campaign site: biography, a short statement, editorial quotes and long lists of judicial, legal, political and organizational endorsements. - Bio: Brandeis 1989, La Verne law 1994; joined Public Defender 1998; Major Cases Unit, capital homicide; 100+ jury trials; PDA president 2015-2020; Eastlake Juvenile Court deputy in charge 2016-2019 (about 25 attorneys); 2025 Gideon Award; judge pro tem. - Statement: her role 'requires me to uphold the Constitution, protect due process, and ensure that the law is applied fairly.' - Endorsers include about 47 judges and commissioners (among them Justice Anne Egerton and Judge David Walgren), defeated rival Troy Slaten, Public Defender Ricardo Garcia, many deputy DAs and deputy PDs, Steve Cooley, Rep. Maxine Waters ('recommends'), the ADDA, Crime Survivors PAC, labor and Democratic clubs. - The donate text refers to 'principled leadership to the California Supreme Court,' an apparent template error. - Reference: ADA SoCal judicial endorsements - Reference: Donate page ### State Bar of California attorney profile: Donna Tryfman - State Bar of California · other · published undated · stance: not_applicable - State Bar of California license record for Donna Tryfman (#176744): active, admitted June 12, 1995, no discipline shown. - License status: Active. - Address: Los Angeles County Public Defender, 210 W Temple St. - Law school: University of La Verne. - Languages: Hebrew, Spanish. ### California College Republicans voter guide: Los Angeles - California College Republicans · third party analysis · published undated · stance: unknown - ### LA County Superior Court Judge, Office No. 131 - The Ballot Brief · voter guide · published undated · stance: neutral - The Ballot Brief's AI-written race page lists Tryfman and Ross as the Office 131 runoff candidates, with priorities and bios drawn from their campaign sites. - Tryfman priorities per her site: fairness and due process, judicial experience, ethical leadership; Major Cases Unit, homicide and capital litigation; past Public Defenders Association president. - Ross priorities per his site: judicial accessibility and respect, temperament, representing those who cannot afford counsel; 30 years as a Riverside County deputy public defender and LA County deputy alternate public defender; former TV reporter, legislative aide, adjunct professor, judge pro tem. - Reference: Tryfman campaign site - Reference: Ross campaign site ### La Defensa 2026 primary voter guide - La Defensa · third party analysis · published undated · stance: unknown - ### County bar groups issue mixed ratings on judicial candidates - Daily Journal · news · published undated · stance: neutral - ## Suggested use Ask me neutral questions about this subject using the material above. Distinguish what the sources say from your own background knowledge, cite the source titles you rely on, and say when information may be out of date given the dates shown.