Broward judge to receive public reprimand for representing friend in court
The Florida Supreme Court has ordered a public reprimand for Broward County Judge Woody Clermont after finding he improperly represented a friend during a first-appearance hearing.
The court acted March 12 in Case No. SC2025-1319, accepting a joint stipulation between Clermont and the Judicial Qualifications Commission to resolve the charges.
“Judge Clermont admits that, on April 11, 2025, he represented a friend at a first appearance proceeding in Broward County after the friend’s arrest for domestic violence,” the opinion notes. “Judge Clermont negotiated with the assistant state attorney prosecuting the case, presented argument to the court in favor of a proposed bond, and offered unsubpoenaed character testimony on behalf of the friend.”
The court said the presiding judge and the assistant state attorney knew of Clermont’s judicial status, but the JQC found no evidence that it affected the other officials’ handling of the case.
The stipulation acknowledges that Clermont’s actions violated Canons 1, 2A, 2B, and 5G of the Code of Judicial Conduct. Those canons require judges to uphold the integrity of the judiciary and to avoid the appearance of impropriety, and they prohibit judges from using their office to advance the private interests of another, from voluntarily testifying as a character witness, and from practicing law.
The Florida Judicial Qualifications Commission found that Clermont had no prior disciplinary history and was remorseful and cooperative throughout the proceedings.
“We accept the Commission’s recommendation,” the court said in ordering the judge to appear before it for the administration of the public reprimand.
