Anna Slotky Reitano advances to Los Angeles Superior Court runoff

Anna Slotky Reitano has moved into the November general election for Los Angeles Superior Court Judge, Office No. 65, after election results were certified June 26. The longtime deputy county counsel and former deputy public defender is campaigning on experience, fairness and judicial independence in a race for one of the nation’s busiest trial courts.

Why it matters: - Los Angeles Superior Court judges handle criminal, civil, family, probate, juvenile, mental health and other complex matters. - Reitano is running on the claim that broad courtroom experience helps judges decide cases fairly and build public confidence. - The race is for Office No. 65, a seat on one of the nation’s largest and busiest trial courts.

What happened: - Anna Slotky Reitano advanced to the November general election after election results were certified on June 26. - Reitano is a veteran attorney with nearly two decades of public service. - Reitano currently serves as a Deputy County Counsel in Los Angeles County’s Justice and Safety Division. - Reitano previously spent more than a decade as a Deputy Public Defender. - Reitano’s campaign said she will continue talking with voters across Los Angeles County about experience, fairness and judicial independence.

The details: - As Deputy County Counsel, Reitano supervises civil litigation and advises County departments focused on public safety, youth development and justice initiatives. - As a Deputy Public Defender, Reitano represented thousands of people in court and handled demanding criminal cases. - Reitano’s legal background includes criminal defense, civil litigation, government counsel, constitutional issues and high-stakes legal matters. - Reitano said judges should listen carefully, evaluate arguments fairly, apply the law impartially and decide cases based on the facts and the law. - Reitano said judges with broad legal experience are better prepared to recognize competing perspectives and approach cases with an open mind. - Reitano said that breadth of experience strengthens public confidence that every person in court will receive a fair hearing. - Reitano said every person who comes before the court deserves an experienced, impartial, thoughtful judge who treats people with dignity, respect and fairness. - Reitano’s campaign noted she is the only woman in the race. - The campaign says it is focused on selecting judges based on legal experience, integrity, temperament and commitment to applying the law fairly, not political ideology. - The campaign website is the campaign's announcement and the campaign also listed social media accounts @reitanoforjudge, Instagram and Facebook.

Between the lines: - Reitano enters the general election with endorsements from former primary opponents Chellei Jimenez and Samuel Krause. - The campaign said those endorsements reflect a shared belief that Reitano has the experience, integrity and judicial temperament needed for the seat. - The campaign has also built support from attorneys, judges, elected officials, women's organizations, civic leaders, community advocates and legal professionals. - The emphasis on judicial independence and experience signals an effort to frame the race around courtroom qualifications rather than ideology.

What's next: - Reitano will continue campaigning through the November general election. - The campaign plans to meet voters across Los Angeles County and keep making its case on judicial experience and fairness. - Voters will decide who fills Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Office No. 65.

The bottom line: - Reitano is positioning her years in both prosecution-adjacent civil counsel work and public defense as the core argument for why she should serve on the bench.