Florida Judge Gary Farmer, a former state senator and Democrat, has been suspended from his post as a Broward County Circuit Court judge, effective next week. The suspension was ordered by an advisory panel to the Florida Supreme Court, which found Farmer unfit to serve due to alleged misconduct, including biased behavior and inappropriate jokes. The suspension was part of a broader investigation by the Florida Judicial Qualifications Commission (FJQC), which cited Farmer’s poor attendance and a demonstrated bias toward certain cases. The suspension becomes effective 11:59 p.m. Monday, following a recommendation by the commission in October 2024 for Farmer’s suspension, which was approved after a probable cause hearing in December 2024.
The panel’s investigation revealed multiple instances of Farmer’s misconduct, including his alleged use of ‘exceptionally bad jokes’ during court proceedings. One example involved Farmer joking about a defendant expecting three children during a felony case on Aug. 15, 2024, with remarks such as, ‘OK, you’ve been busy. You were just shooting all over the place!’ and ‘One’s enough.’ Farmer later allegedly told the defendant, ‘I’m going to order that you wear a condom at all times for your own good.’ Other incidents included Farmer’s singing of a song about ‘Sweet Georgia’ and referencing an ‘In Living Color’ comedy sketch mocking gay people during a different case. The panel also cited Farmer’s use of ‘racy’ jokes and his failure to respect the law by denying due process to litigants and lawyers.
Farmer’s lawyer defended his actions, stating that the jokes were intended to lighten the mood and were generally ‘G-rated dad jokes’ that were ‘corny but not offensive.’ The attorney also noted that Farmer apologized for the jokes during a probable cause hearing and claimed he forgot his microphone was still on during one incident. Despite this, the commission found Farmer’s behavior had significantly damaged the public’s perception of the judiciary, leading to the suspension without pay. Farmer has not yet commented publicly on the matter, though his attorney has filed a response with the court.