Los Angeles County · Statewide General Election
Judge of the Superior Court, Office No. 65 — Los Angeles County
Draft candidate list — early preview until the state’s official list publishes on August 27, 2026.
This is one contest. Enter your address to see every race on your November ballot, and keep track of your picks.
On the ballot
- Justin Allen Clayton
- Anna Slotky Reitano
This person holds a countywide seat on the Los Angeles County Superior Court, the state trial court (6-year term).
Headed to a November 3 runoff: Deputy Public Defender Justin Clayton (36.7%) vs. Deputy County Counsel Anna Slotky Reitano (29.9%). Unusually, both finalists come from the defense side of the courtroom.
The winner serves a six-year term on the county's trial bench, assigned anywhere from criminal and civil to family and probate court. Trial judges rule alone — their decisions are checked mainly on appeal — so the person matters more than in almost any other down-ballot office.
Both finalists come from the defense side of the courtroom, so the usual prosecutor-versus-defender axis does not apply here. What separates them is how openly each has declared a judicial philosophy: one has stated reform-minded views on bail and incarceration and run on a slate, the other has run a deliberately low-profile campaign. Weigh whether you would rather know a judge's leanings going in, or prefer a candidate who has not committed to any.
Justin Allen Clayton
Deputy Public Defender, rated Qualified like all four June candidates. Even guides that endorsed his rival called him strong. An unusually low-drama candidacy.
Strengths
A public-defender career in the courts this seat serves, and the rare distinction of being praised by guides backing his opponent.
Trade-offs
A career on one side of the criminal courtroom, if balance of background matters to you, and he has not set out a judicial philosophy as his opponent has.
Keep in mind
Nothing adverse surfaced in coverage of him, and no outlet we cite raises a concern about his candidacy.
Anna Slotky Reitano
Deputy County Counsel in the Justice and Safety Division, with more than a decade as a public defender before that. She ran in 2022 on the La Defensa-backed 'Defenders of Justice' slate. Her judicial philosophy — reform-minded on bail and incarceration — is openly stated.
Strengths
Experience on both the defense and county-government sides of the courtroom.
Trade-offs
Slate-backed candidacies invite the same scrutiny as any coalition's picks — read the slate's agenda too.
Keep in mind
Her 2022 run tells you where she stands; vote accordingly, whichever way that cuts for you.
June 2 primary — how they advanced
Source review: Strong (88/100) · 6 cited sources
Official records anchor this contest, with several source types checked for context; advocacy or endorsement sources are treated as attributed perspective.
Review note: Knock LA may have more bias because it is an advocacy voter guide compared to other formal government and nonprofit journalism sources.
- results.lavote.gov (opens in a new tab)LA County RR/CC — Certified results, June 2, 2026 primary (certified 2026-06-26)
- content.lavote.gov (opens in a new tab)LA County RR/CC — Offices Scheduled for Election, November 3, 2026 (6/26/26)
- laist.com (opens in a new tab)LAist — LA County judicial races guide (LACBA ratings, ballot designations)
- lacba.org (opens in a new tab)LA County Bar Association — 2026 Judicial Candidate Evaluations
- knock-la.com (opens in a new tab)Knock LA — June 2026 judicial voter guide
- campaignfinance.lacounty.gov (opens in a new tab)LA County campaign-finance disclosure (Registrar-Recorder / NetFile)
Last updated August 17, 2026.