MEDIA ARTICLE: No end to bad behavior on Broward’s bench | Editorial (Sun Sentinel, 9-3-25)

No end to bad behavior on Broward’s bench | Editorial

17th Judicial Circuit

Broward County Judge Woody Clermont, top left, was on the bench Wednesday (Sept. 3, 2025) and held a Zoom hearing in a misdemeanor case from his courtroom in Hollywood. The Sun Sentinel was observing.

By Sun Sentinel Editorial Board | Sun Sentinel

PUBLISHED: September 3, 2025 at 3:08 PM EDT

Welcome to the club, Judge Woody Clermont.

This club is growing — unfortunately. It’s made up of judges in Broward County whose actions violate the Code of Judicial Conduct, which inevitably leads to a formal reprimand — or worse — from the Florida Supreme Court.

It also creates a made-to-order political issue in the next election.

Membership in Broward’s not-so-exclusive club has more consequences. It further tarnishes the credibility of the Broward courts, where most judges are ethical and responsible.

Clermont, 55, of Davie, was elected to the county bench in 2024. He defeated two opponents, Samuel Ford Stark and Alejandro “Alex” Arreaza.

Stark nearly won the seat in the primary with 49.5%, but in a three-way judicial race, he needed a 50% majority, so the outcome was decided in a November runoff. (Stark was endorsed twice by the Sun Sentinel Editorial Board.)

Clermont took office in January. By April, he was in trouble.

Judicial impropriety

The Judicial Qualifications Commission issued findings last week that Clermont violated four provisions of the Code of Judicial Conduct. He appeared in court before another judge as a character witness on behalf of a friend — a woman charged with domestic violence.

“While present at his friend’s first appearance,” the JQC wrote, “Judge Clermont acted as an attorney by advocating on behalf of the defendant and created the appearance of impropriety by providing character testimony, lending the prestige of his judicial office to advance the private interests of another.”

The JQC found that he allowed a personal relationship to affect his judgment and that he practiced law — which judges are not allowed to do. To his credit, Clermont took his colleagues’ advice and self-reported his misconduct to the JQC, which the commission cited in its findings.

“The Commission believes the appearance of impropriety in this case is strong,” the report said. “So strong, in fact, that the presiding judge at the first appearance immediately reported the incident to other judges, who, in turn informed Judge Clermont that he should report himself to the Commission, which he did.”

After self-reporting and admitting wrongdoing, Clermont and the JQC reached a stipulation, under which the JQC recommends a reprimand, the mildest form of punishment.

But before Clermont won a judgeship, he practiced law for decades. He underwent extensive training at a state Judicial College in January to ensure that he followed the Code of Judicial Conduct.

Why didn’t he know his behavior was way out of line?

Case after case

Clermont is the fifth Broward judge to face sanctions from the Florida Supreme Court in the past year.

Suspensions of 10 days each were meted out to Circuit Judge Stefanie Moon and County Judge Mardi Levey Cohen for misconduct. Moon also was fined.

Circuit Judge Gary Farmer resigned from the bench after the court suspended him indefinitely for “grossly inappropriate” courtroom conduct.

Punishment is pending for County Judge Lauren Peffer, also elected last fall, in a bizarre case. She promoted an 18-minute deepfake recording that purported to involve two state Supreme Court justices in which the topics included the supposed sex habits of another judge.

Rumors persist that a sixth Broward judge is being pursued by the JQC, whose investigations are confidential until charges are filed in Tallahassee.

Be tough, Justices

A reprimand is a slap on the wrist, and everyone knows it. 

The Editorial Board suggests the Supreme Court set aside the stipulation and consider a stronger punishment, such as a brief suspension without pay, for Clermont.

Supreme Court justices have rejected stipulations in the past. In this case, it would send an unmistakable message that enough is enough on Broward’s bench.

Woody Clermont will maintain his judgeship and his prestigious black robe and his $189,755-a-year salary.

But as these misconduct cases keep piling up, how much longer will the people of Broward maintain respect for the courts?

The Sun Sentinel Editorial Board consists of Opinion Editor Steve Bousquet, Deputy Opinion Editor Dan Sweeney, editorial writers Pat Beall and Martin Dyckman, and Executive Editor Gretchen Day-Bryant. Contact us by email: letters@sun-sentinel.com.

https://www.sun-sentinel.com/2025/09/03/no-end-to-bad-behavior-on-browards-bench-editorial/