On Thursday, April 10, 2025, the Investigative Panel of the Florida Judicial Qualifications Commission (JQC) recommended that Judge Gary Farmer be suspended from his duties due to a series of lewd comments and misconduct that have raised significant concerns about his fitness to serve on the bench. The panel’s recommendation follows an investigation into Farmer’s behavior while presiding over cases in the Broward Circuit Court.
The case is entitled “In the Matter of Judge Gary Farmer,” with case numbers 2024-900 & 2025-125.
The inquiry was prompted by a series of inappropriate remarks made by Farmer in August 2024, which included vulgar statements during court proceedings. His comments reportedly included a suggestion to a defendant, who was expecting children from multiple mothers, to wear a condom while on probation, saying, “You are shooting all over the place.” He also made light of another case by referencing a comedic sketch, drawing laughter at the expense of maintaining the courtroom’s decorum.
The JQC panel noted that Farmer had been “minimally responsive” to the investigation into his actions. It stated that his extensive misconduct had damaged public perception of the judiciary, resulting in a recommendation for his suspension without pay. The Florida Supreme Court has acknowledged receipt of the formal charges against Farmer as well as the recommendation for suspension.
Farmer, a former Democratic leader in the Florida Senate, was reassigned to the Broward court’s civic division after the comments surfaced. During a hearing related to the inquiry, he failed to appear, citing an unspecified emergency. This absence further contributed to the panel’s view of his unfitness for the role.
The report detailed several instances of Farmer’s inappropriate behavior, including his impatience with courtroom procedures, where he expressed frustration with the removal of a hostile defendant using profanity. Additionally, the panel highlighted multiple occasions where Farmer ignored legal statutes and procedures, including improperly dismissing a criminal case despite valid objections from a prosecution witness.
In another case, Farmer prejudged a defendant’s stand-your-ground defense, claiming that prosecutors would be unable to meet the burden of proof required. He also conducted an unauthorized competency evaluation on a defendant awaiting a formal assessment from another judge, declaring her competent based on informal questioning.
The panel’s findings described Farmer’s conduct as “egregious and serious,” emphasizing that his remarks were not merely jokes but potentially humiliating and discriminatory, affecting those with whom he interacted in his capacity as a judge. After being informed about the complaints against him, Farmer acknowledged that some of his comments were inappropriate but labeled them as “dad jokes” intended to alleviate tension in the courtroom.
The Investigative Panel, however, rejected this characterization, asserting that the nature of his comments demonstrated a lack of seriousness expected from someone in his position. The panel underscored the importance of maintaining a professional atmosphere in court, contrasting Farmer’s behavior with the standards outlined in the Code of Judicial Conduct.
The recommendation for suspension is a significant step in an ongoing process, as the Florida Supreme Court will ultimately decide on the matter.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
