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Jerald D. Bryant

Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller

Jerald D. ‘Jerry” Bryant was elected to serve as Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller beginning January 1, 2021, after a brief retirement from 12 years of service as Okeechobee County Judge. Before his election as judge, he practiced law for 25 years.

Jerry, or “Judge” as he is called by many, is a native Floridian, raised in Okeechobee and a graduate of Okeechobee High School. He served four years in the U.S. Marine Corps as an avionics technician, achieving the rank of Sergeant E-5 and an honorable discharge.  Jerry then returned home to attend Indian River Community College (IRCC), where he earned an AA Degree. He was later awarded a Bachelor’s Degree in Accountancy from Florida Technological University (FTU), now known as University of Central Florida, and graduated with his Juris Doctorate from Stetson University College of Law in 1982.

Between IRCC and FTU, Jerry worked in the bank management program with Sun Bank of St. Lucie County and eventually became Vice President of the Commercial Bank of Okeechobee. After graduating from FTU, he worked as Assistant Regional Controller for Sun Banks of Florida in Orlando and Assistant Vice President of Sun Bank of Tampa Bay. Jerry’s experience in banking, accounting, and law is valuable as he oversees the many legal and financial functions of the Office of Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller.

Jerry has been married for 49 years to Carol, who he met while they attended IRCC.  They have three children: Adam, who passed away at age 21; Sarah, an attorney living in St. Petersburg, FL; and Jesse, a biomedical engineer in Santa Rosa, CA.  They have three wonderful grandchildren.

Service to one’s community is important to Jerry.  He is a former chairman of the Planning Board/Board of Adjustments and Appeals, president of Kiwanis Club of Okeechobee, volunteer for Treasure Coast Food Bank, and youth football, baseball and soccer coach. He is a life member of the American Legion. 

In his work as a lawyer and then as a judge, he saw that the Office of Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller was not providing the appropriate level of public service, so he offered his leadership and experience to improve the operation of the office.  Jerry’s mission is to have the Clerk’s Office serve the public promptly and efficiently, while working cooperatively with other County departments to deliver the highest level of public service and accountability.