Two debates were scheduled for the October meeting: between the two candidates in a run-off for a Los Angeles Superior Court open seat and between the Los Angeles County district attorney and his challenger. A few days before the long-scheduled event, a candidate in each of the races announced he wasn't coming to the debate. Each of the remaining candidates -- then-Los Angeles Municipal Court Judge Karl Jaeger, who was seeking election to the upper trial bench, and District Attorney Gil Garcetti -- showed up and debated an empty podium. Jaeger and Garcetti both won their election contests.