The Florida Supreme Court issued a formal order on Thursday, March 12, 2026, mandating a public reprimand for Broward County Judge Woody Clermont after he admitted to practicing law on behalf of a friend while serving on the bench.
The discipline stems from an April 11, 2025, incident where Judge Clermont appeared at a first appearance proceeding in Broward County. According to court documents, Clermont acted as legal counsel for a friend who had been arrested on domestic violence charges.
During the hearing, the judge negotiated with the assistant state attorney, argued for a specific bond amount, and provided unsubpoenaed character testimony for the defendant.
While both the presiding judge and the prosecutor were aware of Clermont’s judicial status, the Judicial Qualifications Commission (JQC) found no evidence that his presence unfairly influenced the outcome of that specific case. However, the Commission determined—and Clermont later conceded—that his actions crossed several ethical lines.
The Court’s per curiam opinion noted that Clermont violated multiple canons of the Code of Judicial Conduct, which strictly prohibit sitting judges from practicing law, using their prestige to advance private interests, or voluntarily acting as character witnesses.
The justices agreed that Clermont’s admissions “amply support” the findings that he failed to uphold the integrity of the judiciary.
“The Commission and Judge Clermont have asked this Court to impose a public reprimand as discipline,” the Court stated in its filing. In deciding to accept the recommendation rather than pursue harsher penalties, the justices pointed to Clermont’s lack of a prior disciplinary record and his “remorseful and cooperative” behavior throughout the investigation.
The high court’s decision was unanimous, with Chief Justice Muñiz and Justices Labarga, Couriel, Grosshans, Francis, Sasso, and Tanenbaum all concurring. Judge Clermont is now required to appear before the Florida Supreme Court at a date to be determined by the Clerk to receive his reprimand in person.
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