A Broward County judge who made history as the first male Haitian-American elected to the bench is now facing discipline for stepping into another judge’s courtroom and acting as a lawyer for a friend accused of domestic violence.
County Judge Woody Clermont, elected last fall, is accused of misconduct stemming from an April 11 incident, according to documents filed Friday by the Florida Judicial Qualifications Commission (JQC). The panel, which investigates allegations of judicial misconduct, said Clermont identified himself as a judge when he entered a first appearance courtroom, spoke to prosecutors about his friend’s case, and then represented her at the podium.
Court records show the case involved a “personal friend” of Clermont’s who had been arrested and brought before a duty judge. Prosecutors said they initially planned to request a small monetary bond with conditions. But after Clermont provided what the JQC described as “mitigating information” about the defendant and the circumstances of the incident, the prosecutor agreed to a non-monetary bond with conditions.
When the case was called, Clermont announced he would be serving as his friend’s lawyer. The presiding judge allowed him to continue but immediately reported the incident to colleagues, who advised Clermont to notify the JQC himself. Clermont complied and later accepted responsibility for his actions.
“While present at his friend’s first appearance, 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 wrote in its findings.
The panel noted that although the prosecutor knew Clermont was a judge, there was no evidence that the outcome of the bond hearing was influenced by his status. Clermont handles civil cases and does not typically interact with the Broward State Attorney’s Office.
The JQC said the appearance of impropriety in the case was “strong, so strong, in fact, that the presiding judge at the first appearance immediately reported the incident.”
Clermont has agreed to a public reprimand, but the ultimate decision rests with the Florida Supreme Court, which has final authority in cases of judicial discipline.
Born in 1970, Clermont is an attorney and judge whose election marked a milestone for the Caribbean community in South Florida. His victory underscored both representation for Haitian-Americans in Broward County and the county’s growing diversity on the bench.
