Misryoum breaks down several competitive L.A. County Superior Court judge elections, highlighting candidates’ backgrounds and priorities.
A fresh round of L.A. County Superior Court judge elections is putting a spotlight on courtroom experience, case-management goals, and how candidates say they will treat parties who come before the bench.
Misryoum reports that multiple races feature candidates with deep roots in public service. including experience tied to indigent defense. administrative adjudication. and workers’ compensation hearings.. While the campaigns differ in focus. they share a common theme: building confidence that the court process will be fair. organized. and responsive to people dealing with serious consequences.
One of the contenders, Carlos Dammeier, brings a background in administrative law, having served as an administrative law judge since 2022.. Before that. he worked in law enforcement and later represented police and other public-sector unions in employment-related matters. according to campaign materials shared in the race.. In his bid for a Superior Court seat. Dammeier emphasizes tackling case backlogs and issuing decisions he describes as thoughtful and unbiased. also arguing that fairness in the process matters even when outcomes do not go a party’s way.
David Ross is another candidate on the ballot with a track record in public defense.. Misryoum notes that Ross previously worked in Indiana politics and broadcast journalism before entering law. and that his legal career includes years as a deputy public defender in Riverside County and later as a deputy alternate public defender in several L.A.. County-area offices.. In this campaign. he highlights courtroom listening and attention to how people experience being recognized in court. framing his approach as one that seeks to ensure parties feel heard regardless of the final ruling.
Slated for a different slice of the legal world is Troy W.. Slaten, a longtime administrative law judge whose work includes workers’ compensation hearings.. His campaign points to years of practice spanning criminal. civil. and administrative law. as well as prior service as a temporary Superior Court judge.. Misryoum reports that Slaten’s priorities center on fairness and efficiency. with an emphasis on moving cases forward in a timely and organized way while protecting due process.
These elections matter because Superior Court judges often shape the day-to-day realities of people navigating everything from criminal proceedings to family disputes and serious civil litigation.. The candidates’ stated approaches to case flow and courtroom treatment can influence not only outcomes. but also public trust in how justice is administered.
Completing the slate of profiles shared by Misryoum is Donna Tryfman. whose career has been rooted in public defense for decades.. She has held countywide assignments and supervised attorneys early in her career. with experience that includes work in collaborative drug court and current involvement in major crimes cases.. In her campaign. Tryfman underscores access to justice efforts. including exploring digital options to help underserved communities reach the courts more easily. and she also points to prior service as a judge pro tem handling traffic and small claims matters.
At the end of the day, voters in L.A.. County are weighing more than legal credentials.. Misryoum highlights that each candidate is presenting a distinct vision for how the court should function. from managing backlogs to listening carefully in the courtroom. and how those choices can affect whether the public views the system as steady. fair. and accountable.