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David Ross

Deputy Alternate Public Defender, County of Los Angeles
33.2% in JuneNo civil record found

LA County alternate public defender since 2000 and former TV reporter; self-reports 113 jury trials; rated Qualified. 'Alternate' was added to his ballot title after a protest.

On your ballot. Los Angeles County Superior Court, Office No. 131. Choose one: Donna Tryfman or David Ross.

Qualifications

Ballot designation. Deputy Alternate Public Defender, County of Los Angeles
Outside rating. LACBA: Qualified
From the LA County Bar Association's evaluation of candidates in this election. This is LACBA's assessment, not Trellis's.
Background. Admitted 1994. Five years as a Riverside County public defender; LA County Alternate Public Defender since 2000. Before law, about 10 years as a TV reporter, documentary producer and congressional aide. Self-reports 113 jury trials.

Conduct

He first filed as "Deputy Public Defender"; after a protest, "Alternate" was added to match his office.

Endorsements

Self-reported: about 90 judges, the LA deputy DAs' association, multiple unions, Working Families Party, Steve Cooley, LA Sentinel.
Candidate survey answers (LAist) ›

Court records

Trellis attorney record · civil cases only
Could not be determined. Hundreds of California cases list a David Ross, but none could be tied to this candidate. His practice is criminal defense.
Covers civil state trial court records. Criminal cases are a known blind spot, so an empty or short record usually reflects a criminal practice, not a lack of experience.
Sources: MetNewsCampaign site

Others on the same ballot

  • Maria GhobadiLA deputy DA with 6+ years in Gang Homicide; MetNews reports 85+ jury trials, 21 of them homicides. Rated Well Qualified by LACBA; no controversies found.
  • Rhonda A. HaymonLA deputy public defender since 2004; rated Qualified. MetNews, which opposes her, reports a 2024 contempt finding and a 2026 court admonishment over a missed appearance.
  • Justin Allen ClaytonSupervising deputy public defender at the Inglewood branch; self-reports dozens of trials, including three life cases. Rated Qualified by LACBA; no controversies found.
  • Anna Slotky ReitanoDeputy county counsel supervising civil litigation, after 10+ years as a public defender; rated Qualified. MetNews questioned her independence over a 2022 slate and her ballot title.
  • Anthony (A.J.) BayneAbout 25 years as an LA deputy public defender, 19 in Compton; now handles special-circumstance murders. Rated Well Qualified by LACBA; former aerospace worker; no controversies found.
  • David DeJuteFormer federal prosecutor and Sony Pictures litigation VP; adjunct running Pepperdine's Disaster Relief Clinic; rated Qualified. MetNews calls his 'Law Professor' ballot title misleading.
  • Donna TryfmanLA deputy public defender since 1998 handling capital cases; former president of the statewide Public Defenders Association; rated Qualified. MetNews notes critics who call her abrasive.