Southern California editorial boards back Donna Tryfman for Superior Court

Donna Tryfman says she has won support from every identified newspaper editorial board that weighed in on the Los Angeles County Superior Court Office No. 131 race. The endorsements highlight her courtroom experience and could help voters in a low-information judicial contest.

Why it matters: - Tryfman says the endorsements create an unusual level of editorial consensus in a judicial race where many voters know little about the candidates. - The backing may strengthen Tryfman’s case that experience and temperament should drive the vote for Los Angeles County Superior Court Office No. 131.

What happened: - Donna Tryfman, a candidate for Los Angeles County Superior Court Office No. 131, announced on August 26, 2026 that every identified newspaper editorial board that weighed in on the race endorsed her. - The endorsements span Los Angeles County and Southern California. - The list includes the Southern California News Group, the Metropolitan News-Enterprise and Colorado Boulevard News. - The campaign also lists endorsements from individual Southern California News Group publications: the Daily News, Press-Telegram, Daily Breeze, Pasadena Star-News, San Gabriel Valley Tribune, Whittier Daily News, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, Redlands Daily Facts, The Sun and The Press-Enterprise. - The Metropolitan News-Enterprise called Tryfman “the best choice among the four contestants” for Office No. 131.

The details: - The Southern California News Group family includes the Daily News, Daily Breeze, Press-Telegram, Pasadena Star-News, San Gabriel Valley Tribune, Whittier Daily News, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, Redlands Daily Facts, The Sun and The Press-Enterprise. - The Metropolitan News-Enterprise described Tryfman’s extensive courtroom experience and work on challenging felony cases. - Tryfman is a veteran Los Angeles County Public Defender with decades of courtroom experience. - Tryfman has handled serious and complex criminal cases. - Tryfman has served in leadership roles within the Public Defender community. - The campaign says Tryfman is running to be “everyone’s judge,” meaning a judge who applies the law fairly, protects constitutional rights, listens carefully and treats every person in the courtroom with dignity and respect. - Tryfman said she is honored by the endorsements and views a judicial election as a test of qualifications, experience, temperament, integrity and judgment. - Tryfman also said editorial boards reviewed her record and career and concluded she is prepared to serve as a Superior Court judge. - The campaign says Tryfman has support from judges and former judges, prosecutors, public defenders, elected officials, labor organizations, Democratic clubs, legal organizations and community leaders. - Tryfman said judges should not represent a political faction or special interest. - Tryfman said judges must be independent, fair and willing to make difficult decisions based on the law and the facts.

Between the lines: - The endorsement sweep gives Tryfman a visible advantage in a race that likely depends on name recognition and credibility more than broad policy debate. - Editorial support from law-and-courts publications and local newspapers also reinforces the campaign’s core message that judicial candidates should be judged on experience and temperament.

What's next: - Tryfman will keep courting voters as the race for Los Angeles County Superior Court Office No. 131 continues. - The campaign is likely to continue leaning on endorsements and courtroom experience as proof of readiness for the bench.

The bottom line: - Tryfman is trying to turn broad editorial support into voter confidence in a race built around qualifications, fairness and judicial independence.