Boca Raton litigator Meredith Chaiken-Weiss, former Judge Matthew Isaac Destry and incumbent Judge Frank David Ledee are campaigning for a spot on the Broward Circuit bench, running in Group 27 in the Aug. 18 primary election.

Here's what they say qualifies them for the job. Responses have been edited for style and content.

Chaiken-Weiss, did not responde to requests for answers by deadline. She is a commercial litigator and appellate attorney at Graner Platzek & Allison in Boca Raton.

Related: 2020 South Florida Elections: Use This Voter Guide to Learn More About Candidates Running for Judge

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 Matthew Isaac Destry

Destry practices in Margate and is a former Broward Circuit judge, appointed in 2007 and defeated in his 2016 reelection bid. He's also worked as an assistant state attorney and senior litigation attorney for the Florida Attorney General's Office.

Why are you running for this position?

Public service is important.

What about your experience qualifies you for the position?

I have been an active lawyer and member of the Florida Bar for more than 30 years; 20 here in Broward County. I am an AV-rated preeminent lawyer who has been a prosecutor, a statewide prosecutor and in private practice. I served as a circuit judge in Broward County for nine years (2007-2016).

What's your biggest achievement so far?

The difference I have been able to make in people's lives as a public servant.

What would a successful term look like for you?

Continuing to make a difference, case-by-case and day-by-day.

What is the most important issue facing your county at the moment?

The need to foster and ensure public trust in the court system.

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Judge Frank David Ledee

Ledee rose to the bench in 2018 and serves in the unified family division. He's also a former prosecutor and commissioner for the Memorial Healthcare System, and is fluent in English, Spanish, French and Creole.

Why are you running for this position?

I am committed to serving our community and enhancing the integrity of the judiciary in Broward County. I was appointed to the Broward Circuit Court in December 2018 and currently serve in the unified family division. My knowledge, experience and background provide me with a genuine understanding of the diverse needs of the litigants, attorneys and witnesses who appear before me. I pride myself on being accessible, open to contrasting viewpoints and to using a commonsense approach to problem solving. I am fluent in English, French, Spanish and Creole. Having the ability to communicate with all those to seek justice in my courtroom is key to creating an environment of reason and compromise, where litigants are empowered to solve their own problems.

What about your experience qualifies you for the position?

Prior to my appointment to circuit court bench, I served the public for over 24 years as an assistant state attorney, earning the respect of victims, colleagues and law enforcement. I prided myself on treating everyone I encountered fairly and sought to do justice in every case I touched. As the chief of the multiagency gang strike force, the gang prosecution unit and the gun violence unit, I led and coordinated numerous proactive local, state and federal investigations and prosecutions targeting violent gang members, armed drug dealers, career criminals and firearm offenders. As a homicide prosecutor, I successfully tried numerous felony cases to verdict, including murder, racketeering, robbery, burglary, sexual battery, aggravated battery, aggravated assault, aggravated child abuse and trafficking in controlled substances.

What's your biggest achievement so far?

I am an active member of our Broward County community. Most recently, I served as a commissioner and corporate director for the South Broward Hospital District and provided strategic oversight for the multibillion-dollar Memorial Healthcare System. I am incredibly proud of my voluntary service to the Memorial Healthcare System and its 14,000 employees. As a commissioner, I had the privilege of sharing and supporting their unique commitment to providing the best possible health care to over 1 million members of our community.

What would a successful term look like for you?

I would be humbled every day to earn the trust of my community, family, friends, neighbors and colleagues as a fair, thoughtful, caring and hardworking jurist who follows the law.

What is the most important issue facing your county at the moment?

I have upheld the integrity of the judicial system for over 25 years. The global challenges we face today have undermined the values of many of our core institutions. As a judge and leader in our community, I shoulder a unique responsibility to build trust between the judiciary and the people I serve. Building that trust is the cornerstone to ensuring that everyone has access to a sanctuary of justice and fairness.

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