Florida Bar News

Isom wins Distinguished Judicial Service Award

A judge is in a unique position to contribute to the improvement of the law, the legal system and the administration of justice. The support of pro bono services improves the judicial system as a whole. This award is for outstanding and sustained service to the public, especially as it relates to support of pro bono legal services.

Claudia Rickert Isom has been a circuit judge in the 13th Judicial Circuit since 1991. During her tenure, she has served in every division of the circuit, including Family Law, Criminal Justice (Felony), Juvenile Dependency, Juvenile Delinquency, Circuit Civil and East Division (Plant City). She is currently assigned to the Probate, Guardianship and Trust Division.

As a jurist, Judge Isom is not permitted to participate in direct pro bono legal services, however, she is still committed to pro bono work and giving back to the community.

Judge Isom currently co-chairs the Hillsborough County Bar Association’s 5K Pro Bono River Run (formerly the Race to the Courthouse). It is an event she has chaired or co-chaired for the past three years. Judge Isom estimates her volunteer hours organizing, promoting and coordinating the race since 2010 exceed 250. The lawyer runners pledge hours for Bay Area Legal Services’ pro bono services.

In addition to volunteering in the judicial mentorship program, Judge Isom has participated in The Florida Bar’s E-Mentoring Project for law students and the Hillsborough Association for Women Lawyers’ Mentorship Project with Stetson University College of Law. She previously chaired The Florida Bar’s Standing Committee on Professionalism and the Rules of Judicial Administration Committee and currently serves on the Rules of Civil Procedure Committee.

Judge Isom is a member of the Supreme Court’s Standing Committee on Fairness and Diversity and is a certified diversity trainer. She is a member and past president of the Tampa Bay Inn of Court and started its first Mentorship With-Inn Program. She serves as the judge member of the 13th Judicial Circuit’s Diversity Team.

Judge Isom also served on the Supreme Court’s Task Force on Residential Foreclosure Cases.

Judge Isom graduated from the University of Iowa in 1972 with an education degree. She is a 1975 graduate of Florida State University School of Law, where she married her classmate, Woody Isom, in 1973. She has four children (including two attorneys) and two grandchildren.

Judge Isom enjoys volunteering in youth-related activities, singing and hiking. Her personal bests include hiking the Grand Canyon’s Rim to Rim Trail, hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu and completing three half marathons.

Judge Isom grew up on a farm in southeast Iowa and has lived in Florida since 1972.