Judge Gary Farmer, who previously held the position of Senate Democratic Leader, is facing potential suspension from the Broward Circuit Court due to a series of inappropriate remarks and questionable judicial conduct. More than six months after he was reassigned to the civil division, the Florida Supreme Court has acknowledged the receipt of formal charges, a suspension recommendation, and related confidential information stemming from Farmer’s behavior.
The Judicial Qualifications Commission’s (JQC) Investigative Panel voted to recommend a suspension less than two weeks after Farmer failed to appear for a scheduled hearing. He attributed his absence to an unspecified emergency. The panel’s report describes Farmer’s conduct as damaging to the integrity of the judiciary.
“Through his extensive misconduct, occurring over a lengthy period of time,” the recommendation stated, “Judge Farmer has damaged the public’s perception of the judiciary and the judicial branch in such a way that he has demonstrated a present unfitness to serve.”
Farmer’s reassignment followed public backlash in September after it was revealed he had made a series of inappropriate and sexually suggestive remarks while presiding over multiple cases in August. The incidents, which occurred on August 15, included comments to a defendant with multiple children by different mothers, advising him to use protection during probation.
“You are shooting all over the place,” Farmer remarked, later telling the man not to impregnate his attorney.
That same day, he also joked with a lawyer using innuendo based on a sketch from the TV show In Living Color:
“He likes it when the Oilers play the Packers. He used to be a tight end and now he’s a wide receiver.”
Later, while growing impatient with courtroom delays, he uttered an expletive, cutting himself off mid-phrase: “What the f—.”
The JQC report referenced additional instances of similar behavior on other occasions. When questioned during the investigation, Farmer admitted his comments were inappropriate but downplayed them as “dad jokes” meant to lighten the mood. However, JQC General Counsel Alex John Williams criticized this defense in his April 10 report.
“(Many) of the so-called jokes were actually demeaning and potentially humiliating comments aimed at individual attorneys, court staff, litigants, and others over whom Judge Farmer held significant authority,” Williams wrote.
“Moreover, many of his comments … could be viewed as discriminatory, or evincing a bias for or against parties, or controversies already in front … or likely to come before him.”
In addition to the inappropriate remarks, the panel outlined several concerning judicial actions. For example, Farmer improperly dismissed a criminal case after striking a prosecution witness, disregarding objections and explanations about legal procedure. In another instance, he appeared to prejudge cases involving Florida’s stand-your-ground law, suggesting prosecutors could never meet the legal threshold required to disprove a defendant’s claim of fear.
The panel also noted an incident in which Farmer bypassed a pending court-ordered mental competency evaluation by conducting his own, asking “random questions” to the defendant. Despite the defendant answering some questions incorrectly, Farmer declared her competent and accepted a guilty plea. When asked about procedural rules concerning competency evaluations, he reportedly responded that he was unaware any existed.
Williams categorized Farmer’s response to the investigation as lacking and uncooperative, stating that the judge claimed memory lapses and admitted to not reviewing court audio recordings.
“However much Judge Farmer believes he is like the fictional Harry Stone,” Williams wrote, referencing the sitcom Night Court, “the circus-like atmosphere that made the television show a comedic parody of real-life court proceedings is completely antithetical to the manner in which a real court proceeding should be conducted and violative of the Code of Judicial Conduct.”
Farmer reportedly told colleagues that he preferred his current division because it allowed him to joke around, even saying:
“I like it here. This is the people’s court. … I’m thinking about doing some night court.”
The JQC rejected any notion that the judge’s behavior was excusable because people laughed or didn’t openly complain. According to the panel, as a figure of authority, Farmer’s courtroom audience may have felt compelled to tolerate or even applaud his behavior.
The recommendation to the Florida Supreme Court is for Judge Farmer to be suspended without pay while the inquiry continues. The disciplinary case remains ongoing.
This is not the first time Farmer’s comments have led to controversy. He was removed as Senate Democratic Leader after only five months due to internal conflict, including remarks made about Senator Lauren Book’s ability to lead while raising two young children. He later apologized, clarifying that his statement was not meant to reflect on gender or on Senator Book personally.