Woody Clermont (Broward County Court Group 10, Florida, candidate 2024)

Woody Clermont

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Nonpartisan

Candidate, Broward County Court Group 10

Elections and appointments

Last election

November 5, 2024

Education

High school

Regis High School

Bachelor's

Binghamton University, 1992

Graduate

Western Governors University, 2020

Law

University of Miami School of Law, 2002

Personal

Birthplace

New York, N.Y.

Religion

Christian

Profession

Attorney and Professor

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Campaign Twitter

Personal LinkedIn

Woody Clermont ran for election to the Broward County Court Group 10 in Florida. He was on the ballot in the general election on November 5, 2024.^[source]

Clermont completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.

Clermont won election to the Broward County Court on Nov. 5, 2024, and was sworn into office on Jan. 7, 2025, handling Criminal Division SC and Civil Division 62 at the South Satellite Courthouse in Broward County, Fla.

Biography

Woody Clermont provided the following biographical information via Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey on December 2, 2024:

• Birth date: June 2, 1970
• Birth place: Brooklyn, New York City, New York
• High school: Regis High School, New York City, New York
• Bachelor's: Binghamton University, 1992
• Graduate: Florida Atlantic University, 2014
• Graduate: Western Governors University, 2020
• Gender: Male
• Religion: Roman Catholic
• Profession: Attorney / Judge
• Incumbent officeholder: No
• Campaign slogan: Experience Matters.
• Campaign website
• Campaign endorsements
• Campaign Facebook
• Campaign Twitter
• Campaign YouTube video
• LinkedIn

Elections

General election

General election for Broward County Court Group 10

Woody Clermont and Samuel Ford Stark ran in the general election for Broward County Court Group 10 on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate
	Submit photo	Woody Clermont (Nonpartisan)
	Submit photo	Samuel Ford Stark (Nonpartisan)

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	Incumbency information for this election was not available.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Endorsements

To view Clermont's endorsements as published by their campaign, click here. Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Clermont in this election.

Campaign themes

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Woody Clermont completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Clermont's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am a holder of 9 academic degrees, I am licensed in Florida, New York, New Jersey. I worked in the insurance claims business for 10 years, and as an attorney for 20 years. I have served as an Attorney in Personal Injury and Workers Compensation. I worked as an Assistant State Attorney in the Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office. I worked as a Judicial Staff Attorney. I worked as a Commission Aide for a Miami-Dade County Commissioner Kionne McGhee. I served as a Medicaid Fair Hearing Officer. I worked as an Assistant City Attorney for the City of Miami Beach. I have done community service with the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated, HandsOn Broward, Kiwanis (Davie/Hollywood Chapter and Deerfield West Chapter), I am in training to try to join Circle of Brotherhood, I am part of the United Way Mental Health Action Promotion Team, I am a member of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History, I do Prison Ministry Service for the New Mount Olive Baptist Church. I am a Silver Life Member of the NAACP. More information can be found at https://woodyforjudge.com.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• I am a public servant to the people, who puts the needs of the citizens of Broward County first.
• I believe in following all of the judicial canons in the Florida Code of Judicial Conduct, and the opinions of the JEAC.
• I will perform the Duties of Judicial Office Impartially and Diligently, Engage in Activities to Improve the Law, the Legal System, and the Administration of Justice, and Avoid Impropriety and the Appearance of Impropriety. I will refrain from Inappropriate Political Activity.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

The Administration of Justice.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

Jesus Christ. I would like to follow his example. He is a man of peace, who sacrificed himself for the needs of others. I would follow his teachings of forgiveness and love.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

Simple Justice: the history of Brown v. Board of Education and Black America's struggle for equality by Richard Kluger.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

That I will uphold the Integrity and Independence of the Judiciary, as well as Avoid Impropriety and the Appearance of Impropriety in all of my Judicial Activities

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

Wisdom. Intuition. Patience. Temperament.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

A judge shall be faithful to the law and maintain professional competence in it. A judge shall not be swayed by partisan interests, public clamor, or fear of criticism. A judge shall be patient, dignified, and courteous to litigants, jurors, witnesses, lawyers, and others with whom the judge deals in an official capacity, and shall require similar conduct of lawyers, and of staff, court officials, and others subject to the judge's direction and control. A judge shall perform judicial duties without bias or prejudice. A judge shall not, in the performance of judicial duties, by words or conduct manifest bias or prejudice, including but not limited to bias or prejudice based upon race, sex, religion, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, or socioeconomic status, and shall not permit staff, court officials, and others subject to the judge's direction and control to do so. This section does not preclude the consideration of race, sex, religion, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, or other similar factors when they are issues in the proceeding. A judge shall dispose of all judicial matters promptly, efficiently, and fairly.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I would love to leave the world a better place than when I found it.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

New York City blackout of 1977. I was six years old.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

Trans World Airlines (TWA) at the JFK Airport in New York City, New York. I worked the job for a summer.

What is your favorite book? Why?

The Spook Who Sat by the Door by Sam Greenlee.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

Django from Django Unchained.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

A Change Going to Come by Sam Cooke.

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

I have a good heart. Sometimes, this is taken as a weakness, rather than as a strength.

Are there any little-known powers or responsibilities held by this office that you believe more people should be aware of?

No.

How would you describe your legal philosophy?

Pragmatic and progressive.

Is there a particular judge, past or present, whom you admire?

Judge Joseph Woodrow Hatchett

Do you believe that empathy is an important quality for a judge?

Yes. It is mandatory.

Have you ever been rated by a Bar Association? If so, what was the rating?

No.

Why are you running for this particular court seat?

To give back. To make a difference.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for a judge to have previous experience in government or politics?

Yes.

What is your primary concern about today's legal system in your state?

We must continue to maintain the integrity and the independence of the Florida Judiciary.

What do you consider the greatest opportunity for the legal system in your state?

The greatest opportunity is to help the people while ensuring the efficient administration of justice.

Would you be interested in serving on a higher court in the future? If so, which court appeals to you?

Florida Fourth District Court of Appeal.

Do you believe that Bar Association ratings are an accurate reflection of a judge’s ability?

Yes.

Tell us your favorite joke.

Name the kind of tree you can hold in your hand? A palm tree.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Tamarac News. The Black Vote Action. Save Action PAC.

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

I strongly believe in increasing financial transparency so it will make it easier to hold judges accountable and strengthen both judicial integrity and public confidence.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

Note: Clermont submitted the above survey responses to Ballotpedia on December 2, 2024.

Show past responsesHide past responses

November 6 submission

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Woody was born in Brooklyn, New York. He attended Our Lady of Refuge from Kindergarten through the Eighth Grade. After passing a rigorous admissions exam, he was admitted to Regis High School in New York, New York, a school which is ranked as either first or second in private schools in the United States. Woody has a total of nine academic degrees: two Associates, three Bachelors, three Master's degrees and a law doctorate. Woody worked in the insurance industry between 1993 and 2003. Woody has practice law from 2004 until the present - more than twenty years. Woody is a member of the Phi Theta Kappa, Delta Epsilon Iota, and Omicron Delta Epsilon honor societies. Woody has worked once as an Assistant State Attorney and as an Assistant City Attorney with Miami Beach. Woody worked as a senior staff attorney with the 11th Judicial Circuit. Woody also worked as a Medicaid Hearing Officer with the Agency for Health Care Administration, and as a Commission Aide with Miami Dade County Commissioner Kionne L. McGhee. Woody has taught Bible studies to inmates in jail or prison, is a member of two chapters of the Kiwanis International, serves on the Circle of Brotherhood, acts as a mentor with Big Brothers, Big Sisters, and does community service as a lifetime member of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated. Woody has been published twice in the Florida Bar Journal, and 6 other times in other legal journals.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• Experience Matters. A County Court Judge should be educated, experienced, and be able to handle a wide variety of situations that arise in the law.
• Good Temperament. A County Court Judge should be patient, diligent, understanding, and treat all litigants from every walk of life with courtesy and respect.
• Advancing the Law. A good judge should promote the study of law, advancement of the field, and engage in activities that encourage development of the field of law.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Administration of Justice.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

Accountability, diligence, promoting the administration of justice, temperament, wisdom, patience, being knowledgeable, and committed to the rule of law.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I would like to leave the bench as a place of honor, a place of true commitment, and a legacy of serving the people.

Do you believe that empathy is an important quality for a judge?

Yes, a judge requires empathy.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

The Black Action Vote, Tamarac News, Save Action Pac.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

Note: Clermont submitted the above survey responses to Ballotpedia on November 6, 2024.

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