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Donna Tryfman

Deputy Public Defender, County of Los Angeles
37.3% in JuneTrellis court record

LA 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.

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

Qualifications

Ballot designation. Deputy 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 1995. Law Offices of Mark Werksman, then LA County Public Defender since 1998; supervised about 25 lawyers at Eastlake Juvenile Court; now handles capital and special-circumstance homicides. Former president of the statewide Public Defenders Association.

Conduct

MetNews notes critics who call her abrasive and a "competent" office rating.

Endorsements

MetNews, Daily News, Colorado Boulevard, SEIU 721, Public Defender Garcia, Steve Cooley, Crime Survivors PAC.
Candidate survey answers (LAist) ›

Court records

Trellis attorney record · civil cases only
No cases as counsel, but court records show she sat as a temporary judge (judge pro tem) in LA small claims court in 2021, across about 30 cases.
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.
  • David RossLA 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.