Ahead of the November general election, the Southern California News Group compiled a list of questions to pose to the candidates who wish to represent you. You can find the full questionnaire below.
Name: Anna Slotky Reitano
Age: 45
Current job title: Deputy County Counsel, Justice and Safety Division, Los Angeles County Office of the County Counsel
Incumbent: No
Other political positions held: N/A
City where you reside: Los Angeles
Campaign website or social media: www.ReitanoForJudge.com
How has your experience in courtrooms prepared you to be a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge? (Please answer in 200 words or fewer.)
My courtroom experience has prepared me to serve as a judge who is knowledgeable, efficient, fair, and ready on day one. During more than a decade as a Public Defender, I handled thousands of cases and completed dozens of jury trials and adjudications involving serious felonies, misdemeanors, and juvenile matters. I learned to analyze complex legal and factual issues, make difficult decisions under pressure, preserve the record, and communicate clearly with judges, jurors, witnesses, attorneys, and clients from every background.
Years of daily courtroom practice also showed me how judicial preparation, temperament, and calendar management affect everyone involved. When a courtroom is disorganized or unnecessarily delayed, people can lose work, childcare, housing, or confidence in the justice system. A judge must be prepared, punctual, decisive, and respectful of everyone’s time.
As a Deputy County Counsel, I have expanded my experience by supervising civil litigation and advising County Departments on complex legal, policy, and operational matters. Combined with my criminal, juvenile, labor, and administrative experience, that work has prepared me to understand cases from multiple perspectives and manage a courtroom effectively on day one.
My experience has taught me that every case matters and that fairness requires careful attention and timely decisions.
What steps would you take to actively recognize, confront and set aside personal or systemic biases in the courtroom? (Please answer in 200 words or fewer.)
Confronting bias begins with recognizing that no one is entirely free from it. As a judge, I would remain vigilant about my own assumptions, continue my education on implicit bias and cultural competency, and approach every case with an open mind.
I would ensure that every person has a meaningful opportunity to be heard and that my rulings are based only on the law and the evidence. I would apply legal standards consistently, explain my decisions clearly, and examine patterns in my rulings to identify possible disparities. I would also ensure access to qualified interpreters and reasonable accommodations, use people’s correct names and pronouns, and prevent dehumanizing language in my courtroom.
Having experienced gender bias personally, I understand how damaging unequal treatment can be. My commitment to confronting systemic bias is also grounded in my professional experience. As a Deputy Public Defender, I was one of the first attorneys to litigate California’s Racial Justice Act after it became law. That work required examining how bias can affect charging decisions and case outcomes, even when it is not explicit.
A judge cannot eliminate every inequality in society, but a judge can ensure that bias never substitutes for facts, law, or individualized judgment.
What are the biggest changes, if any, that are needed for the justice system in LA County? (Please answer in 200 words or fewer.)
The greatest needs in Los Angeles County courts are improved access, greater efficiency and more consistency.
Too many people struggle to navigate the courts because they cannot afford an attorney, do not speak English fluently, or cannot find clear information about the legal process. We should expand access to qualified interpreters, self-help services and plain-language information so people can understand the proceedings and participate meaningfully.
Courts must also reduce avoidable delays through better preparation, responsible use of technology and effective case management. When legally appropriate, courts should make effective use of diversion, treatment and other programs that address underlying problems while preserving accountability and protecting public safety.
Justice should be understandable, timely and consistent across courthouses. A person’s ability to receive a fair hearing should never depend on income, language or whether they can afford counsel.
What, if anything, are you taking away from your rating from the Los Angeles County Bar Association? (Please answer in 200 words or fewer.)
I respect LACBA’s evaluation process and agree with its conclusion that I am qualified to serve as a judge.
I have devoted over 20 years to public service, including more than 17 years as a licensed attorney. I began as a certified law clerk in the District Attorney’s Office, represented public safety employees in labor and administrative matters, and spent more than a decade as a Deputy Public Defender. There, I handled thousands of criminal and juvenile cases and completed dozens of jury trials and adjudications.
My work has since expanded further. I now supervise civil litigation on behalf of L.A. County and advise departments focused on public safety, youth development, and community investment.
I appreciate that the evaluation confirms I meet the professional standards to serve as a judge. My complete record demonstrates even more: unusual breadth across criminal, juvenile, civil, labor, administrative and government law; extensive courtroom experience; and the judgment required to manage difficult cases fairly and efficiently.
I take every professional evaluation seriously, and I will continue learning and growing throughout my career. I welcome voters’ review of my complete record and believe it demonstrates that I am fully prepared to serve our community as a judge.
How will you ensure that all litigants, regardless of background, receive equal justice in your court? (Please answer in 200 words or fewer.)
I will ensure that every litigant who enters my courtroom is treated fairly, respectfully, and with dignity. My decisions will be based only on the facts and the law, never on a person’s identity, income, immigration status, or background.
Equal justice also requires giving every litigant a meaningful opportunity to be heard and understand the proceedings. I will use clear language, work to ensure that interpreters and reasonable accommodations are available when needed, and apply courtroom rules consistently. I will also remain mindful of how conscious and unconscious bias can affect the justice system.
My broad professional background has prepared me to evaluate cases without identifying with or favoring any side. I have clerked at the prosecutor’s office and also represented people accused of crimes, public safety employees, and county departments serving the public. By representing different and sometimes competing perspectives within our justice system, I have already demonstrated my ability to listen carefully, evaluate each matter fairly, and treat people equally without favoring one side or prejudging anyone. Every litigant deserves a prepared judge, a fair hearing, and equal justice under the law. I would be honored to uphold these principles as a judge.
What steps will you take to ensure respect and fairness for self-represented litigants? (Please answer in 200 words or fewer.)
I will treat self-represented litigants with patience, dignity, and respect while remaining fair to every party. I will explain courtroom procedures and rulings in clear, understandable language, confirm that litigants understand what is expected, and connect them with available self-help centers, interpreters, and other court resources. Through my more than 20 years of public service, I have extensive experience working with people who must navigate complicated government and court systems without legal assistance. That experience will help me serve the community while applying the same law and ethical standards to every party.
Bonus question: What is the best book you’ve read this year? Explain why you found it compelling.
The best book I’ve read this year is David Sedaris’s “The Land and Its People.”
Sedaris is always hilarious, and whenever I read his work, I hear every word in his voice. Because I deal with serious issues at work, I usually reach for something lighter and more fun when I pick up a book, so this was perfect. My family gave it to me for my birthday, although I only recently found time to start it. I gravitate toward Sedaris’s dark humor because he is witty, endearingly grumpy, and exceptionally good at finding the very real and relatable absurdity in everyday life. His stories are simply fun to read.