Court administrators are rarely the center of attention or controversy—until now.

Broward County Clerk of Courts Brenda D. Forman is at the heart of legal industry intrigue about her job qualifications, ethics, failing marriage to ex-clerk Howard Forman and, more subtly, her race.

Brenda Forman is Broward's first black female clerk. She won the job in November in a surprise victory over favorite Mitchell Ceasar, the former Broward Democratic Party chief. Her four-year term began in January, but critics seem intent on ousting her over claims she's unqualified for the $170,000-a-year job. She's drawn anonymous criticism from people who've used racist phrases like “hood rat” to describe her.