The Judicial Educational Forum aims to provide Rotary Club members with civic education about the judicial system and the professional backgrounds of three judicial candidates, without endorsing, promoting, or advocating for any campaign.
Participants:
- David DeJute – Former Assistant U.S. Attorney
A former Assistant U.S. Attorney, David DeJute represented federal agencies including the FBI and NASA. His career spans over three decades of federal service, private practice, corporate litigation and teaching. He served as Vice President of Litigation for Sony Pictures Entertainment and taught at Pepperdine Caruso School of Law, directing its Disaster Relief Clinic to help Californians obtain free legal aid after disasters.
- Donna Tryfman – Major Cases Unit, LA County Public Defender
Donna Tryfman handles homicide and capital cases in the Los Angeles County Public Defender’s Major Cases Unit. Her three decades of courtroom experience include over one hundred jury trials involving serious and violent felonies. She has served as a Judge Pro Tem and Deputy in Charge at Eastlake Juvenile Court. In 2025, she received the Gideon Award for Felony Attorney of the Year.
- Anna Slotky Reitano – Deputy County Counsel, Justice & Safety Division
Anna Slotky Reitano has practiced law in Los Angeles for 17 years. As a Deputy Public Defender for over a decade, she represented thousands of people in juvenile, misdemeanor and serious felony cases. As a Deputy County Counsel in the Justice and Safety Division, she now supervises civil litigation and advises County departments on public safety, youth violence prevention and alternatives to incarceration.
Rotary Compliance Note:
Rotary may host candidates only if all candidates for the same office are invited and the event is strictly educational. This plan frames the session around judicial roles, legal careers, and public service, not campaign messaging.
