diff --git a/src/lean_spec/subspecs/containers/checkpoint.py b/src/lean_spec/subspecs/containers/checkpoint.py
index 43d82807..279d3bad 100644
--- a/src/lean_spec/subspecs/containers/checkpoint.py
+++ b/src/lean_spec/subspecs/containers/checkpoint.py
@@ -19,3 +19,11 @@ class Checkpoint(Container):
 
     slot: Slot
     """The slot number of the checkpoint's block."""
+
+    def __lt__(self, other: "Checkpoint") -> bool:
+        """Order checkpoints by slot."""
+        # Foreign types: defer to Python's reflected fallback.
+        if not isinstance(other, Checkpoint):
+            return NotImplemented
+        # Slot drives the order; equal slots leave the pair incomparable.
+        return self.slot < other.slot
diff --git a/src/lean_spec/subspecs/forkchoice/store.py b/src/lean_spec/subspecs/forkchoice/store.py
index 17810b2f..3de1e759 100644
--- a/src/lean_spec/subspecs/forkchoice/store.py
+++ b/src/lean_spec/subspecs/forkchoice/store.py
@@ -521,12 +521,8 @@ def on_block(
             # The store's checkpoint is pinned to the anchor at init and only
             # moves forward via real justification/finalization events.
             # On ties the store's view is authoritative.
-            latest_justified = max(
-                self.latest_justified, post_state.latest_justified, key=lambda c: c.slot
-            )
-            latest_finalized = max(
-                self.latest_finalized, post_state.latest_finalized, key=lambda c: c.slot
-            )
+            latest_justified = max(self.latest_justified, post_state.latest_justified)
+            latest_finalized = max(self.latest_finalized, post_state.latest_finalized)
 
             store = self.model_copy(
                 update={
@@ -1333,12 +1329,8 @@ def produce_block_with_signatures(
         # Locally produced blocks bypass normal block processing.
         # We must manually propagate any checkpoint advances.
         # Higher slots indicate more recent justified/finalized states.
-        latest_justified = max(
-            final_post_state.latest_justified, store.latest_justified, key=lambda c: c.slot
-        )
-        latest_finalized = max(
-            final_post_state.latest_finalized, store.latest_finalized, key=lambda c: c.slot
-        )
+        latest_justified = max(final_post_state.latest_justified, store.latest_justified)
+        latest_finalized = max(final_post_state.latest_finalized, store.latest_finalized)
 
         # Persist block and state immutably.
         new_store = store.model_copy(
diff --git a/tests/lean_spec/subspecs/containers/test_checkpoint.py b/tests/lean_spec/subspecs/containers/test_checkpoint.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..fa8b6e22
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/lean_spec/subspecs/containers/test_checkpoint.py
@@ -0,0 +1,70 @@
+"""Unit tests for Checkpoint ordering."""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import pytest
+
+from lean_spec.subspecs.containers.checkpoint import Checkpoint
+from lean_spec.subspecs.containers.slot import Slot
+from lean_spec.types import Bytes32
+
+# Two distinct roots to verify ordering ignores root content.
+ROOT_A = Bytes32(b"\xa0" * 32)
+ROOT_B = Bytes32(b"\xb0" * 32)
+
+
+def test_lt_returns_true_for_lower_slot() -> None:
+    """Lower slot is less than higher slot."""
+    low = Checkpoint(root=ROOT_A, slot=Slot(1))
+    high = Checkpoint(root=ROOT_A, slot=Slot(2))
+    assert (low < high) is True
+
+
+def test_lt_returns_false_for_higher_slot() -> None:
+    """Higher slot is not less than lower slot."""
+    low = Checkpoint(root=ROOT_A, slot=Slot(1))
+    high = Checkpoint(root=ROOT_A, slot=Slot(2))
+    assert (high < low) is False
+
+
+def test_lt_returns_false_for_equal_slots_with_different_roots() -> None:
+    """Equal slots are incomparable regardless of root."""
+    a = Checkpoint(root=ROOT_A, slot=Slot(7))
+    b = Checkpoint(root=ROOT_B, slot=Slot(7))
+    assert (a < b) is False
+    assert (b < a) is False
+
+
+def test_lt_returns_false_for_identical_checkpoint() -> None:
+    """Checkpoint is never less than itself."""
+    cp = Checkpoint(root=ROOT_A, slot=Slot(3))
+    assert (cp < cp) is False
+
+
+def test_lt_returns_not_implemented_for_non_checkpoint() -> None:
+    """Direct dunder call returns NotImplemented for foreign types."""
+    cp = Checkpoint(root=ROOT_A, slot=Slot(1))
+    assert cp.__lt__(42) is NotImplemented  # type: ignore[arg-type]
+
+
+def test_lt_raises_typeerror_when_compared_with_non_checkpoint() -> None:
+    """Operator < raises TypeError after the reflected fallback fails."""
+    cp = Checkpoint(root=ROOT_A, slot=Slot(1))
+    with pytest.raises(TypeError):
+        _ = cp < 42  # type: ignore[operator]
+
+
+def test_max_returns_higher_slot_regardless_of_argument_order() -> None:
+    """max selects the higher-slot checkpoint regardless of argument order."""
+    low = Checkpoint(root=ROOT_A, slot=Slot(1))
+    high = Checkpoint(root=ROOT_B, slot=Slot(2))
+    assert max(low, high) == high
+    assert max(high, low) == high
+
+
+def test_max_keeps_first_argument_on_slot_tie() -> None:
+    """max returns the first argument on slot ties."""
+    a = Checkpoint(root=ROOT_A, slot=Slot(5))
+    b = Checkpoint(root=ROOT_B, slot=Slot(5))
+    assert max(a, b) == a
+    assert max(b, a) == b