MEDIA ARTICLE: Florida’s Judicial Problem Child: The Real Judges of Broward County (Newsbreak, 9-4-25)

 Florida’s Judicial Problem Child: The Real Judges of Broward County

The Persistent Judicial Misconduct and Corruption in Broward County’s Court System, The State of Florida’s Own Law & Order Dramedy

By Senior Staff Writer, Edmond Thorne: 09/04/2025 13:21 EST

Fla. News Network —Broward County's judiciary has garnered a reputation as one of the most problematic in Florida's judicial system. Since 2001, approximately 17% of formal disciplinary cases against sitting judges in Florida originated from this county alone, despite its representing only a fraction of the state's judicial population.

This disproportionate number signals what many see as a "systematic problem" within Broward's courtrooms, where multiple judges have faced investigations, reprimands, suspensions, or criminal charges at the same time, an unusual occurrence elsewhere in the state.

Corruption and Ethical Violations:

Several Broward judges have been formally reprimanded and suspended for conflicts of interest and campaign-related misconduct. Judge Claudia Robinson is a notable example; she was suspended for 30 days without pay for directing cases toward attorneys who supported her campaign and eventually resigned to avoid further discipline. 

Another example is Judge Stefanie Moon, suspended and fined after being found guilty of inappropriate political contributions, including donations to political committees backing high-profile Democratic candidates. Moon was also accused of improperly contacting the therapist of a litigant during her re-election campaign, blurring ethical boundaries deeply ingrained in judicial conduct codes.

Moreover, Judge Mardi Levey Cohen was suspended for 10 days and publicly reprimanded for spreading unverified, damaging information during her 2022 election campaign. Her actions included forwarding false accusations about an opponent and filing misleading IRS complaints with falsified mailing details to intimidate her opponent's supporters.

Behavioral Issues and Professional Misconduct:

Beyond corruption, behavioral and professional misconduct have marred Broward's judiciary. Judge Gary Farmer's case is perhaps the most egregious; he was indefinitely suspended without pay after multiple complaints about his courtroom conduct surfaced. Farmer repeatedly told lewd, sexually explicit jokes from the bench and demonstrated bias, which led the Florida Judicial Qualifications Commission (JQC) to declare him unfit for service. His inappropriate behavior, including referencing homoerotic comedy sketches and disparaging comments, severely damaged public trust in the judicial process. 

Furthermore, Judge Woody Clermont faces a public reprimand for intervening in a domestic violence case to help a friend, an act viewed as a glaring conflict of interest and improper use of his judicial status to influence a legal proceeding.

Noteworthy Scandals and Odd Incidents:

Broward County judges have not shied away from headlines involving odd and scandalous behavior. In 2014, Judge Lynn Rosenthal made headlines after sideswiping a police car and crashing her vehicle into a courthouse gate, a spectacle that raised questions about judicial conduct off the bench. While isolated, this incident adds to the pattern of behavior inconsistencies troubling Broward's judiciary.

Even more dramatically, Judge Lauren Peffer faced ethics charges related to spreading fabricated evidence, including sharing an AI-manipulated recording during a campaign, aimed at discrediting other judicial members. Such efforts undermine faith in the fairness and impartiality of the court system. Broward judges have also been caught on the wrong side of criminal charges, including DUIs and other misconduct, painting a deeply troubling picture of the local judiciary's adherence to the law they are meant to uphold.

Is Broward the Only Troubled Bench in Florida:

While Broward's problems are highly visible and well-documented, other Florida judicial circuits have had their share of misconduct cases too. However, Broward's share of disciplinary actions, roughly one-sixth of all Florida cases from a single county, is unusually high. This suggests the Broward bench struggles more publicly with judicial misconduct than others in the state.

Elected vs. Appointed Judges: Which Are More Problematic:

The debate over whether elected or appointed judges are more prone to misconduct persists. Appointed judges often benefit from rigorous vetting and can be insulated from direct political pressure, yet may sometimes allow political affiliations to influence rulings without the check of election accountability. On the other hand, elected judges face direct accountability to voters, which forces them into political campaigns with risks of ethically dubious fundraising and campaign misconduct, as seen across Broward's judiciary. Thus, both systems have vulnerability spots, but Broward's elected judges seem especially susceptible to campaign-related ethical breaches.

Summary: Broward County Judicial Troubles:

• Repeated cases of campaign ethics violations, including improper political donations and misinformation spread.
• Several judges suspended or reprimanded for biased courtroom remarks and unprofessional conduct.
• Instances of criminal charges and on- and off-bench behavior damaging public trust.
• Use of fake evidence and misinformation tactics in election campaigns.
• Broward disproportionately represents a significant portion of Florida's judicial discipline cases.
• Complex dynamics between judicial elections and accountability contribute to recurring issues.

Looking Ahead: Can Broward Courts Reform:

The pattern of misconduct and ethical lapses in Broward County judges is troubling but not beyond remedy. Recognizing the role of campaign pressures on judicial behavior is vital for reforms aimed at safeguarding integrity. 

Enhanced oversight by bodies like the Judicial Qualifications Commission, combined with public awareness and stricter campaign conduct regulations, may help restore trust. Broward's judicial bench is a high-stakes platform where public confidence needs constant protection.

Forward Together:

Broward's judiciary isn't a sitcom; these are serious missteps that fracture public trust. Yet there's no simple fix. 

The county faces a balancing act: enforce strong ethical standards, ensure accountability, but also support judges in coping with political and professional stress.

Media, lawyers, community leaders, they're all looking closely at Broward. Will the next headlines be about reform, redemption, or more turmoil?

Thank you for reading our article! We would love to hear your thoughts, so join the conversation. Please like, share, and follow if you enjoyed this content. We encourage everyone to research topics and form their own opinions. You can contact us at EdmondThorne@proton.me. Thank you! 

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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/

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