Judicial watchdog recommends suspension for Broward Judge Gary Farmer

The state’s judicial ethics watchdog on Thursday called for the immediate suspension without pay of Broward Circuit Court Judge Gary Farmer, a former minority leader in the Florida Senate who was ousted from his leadership role by his own colleagues.

Farmer was elected to the bench in 2022, a year after he was forced out of a leadership position by his fellow senate Democrats. But his propensity for speaking his mind as an elected representative followed him into the courtroom, bulldozing over the rules governing the public conduct of judges.

He told one defendant to wear a condom while on probation. He came dangerously close to using profanity while having another defendant removed from his courtroom. He repeated over-the-top gay stereotypes from the 1990s sketch comedy show “In Living Color.”

And that was just in one day, Aug. 15, 2024.

Farmer also joked on another day that he would be less at ease overseeing a murder trial than he would be “doing some night court,” an apparent reference to a television sitcom.

“It goes without saying that the circus-like atmosphere that made the television show [“Night Court”] 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,” the Judicial Qualifications Commission wrote in its recommendation to suspend Farmer “pending the outcome of this disciplinary matter.”

In recordings of the Aug. 15 session in Farmer’s courtroom, he is heard expressing surprise that a car theft suspect is expecting three children from three different mothers.

“You’ve been busy,” Farmer says, asking whether the suspect knows the first and last names of the women. “You were just shooting all over the place. … I’m going to order that you wear a condom at all times. It’s for your own good. Probation’s gonna check. No, I’m kidding.”

Moments later Farmer tells the defendant he’s going to appoint a new defense lawyer, a married woman from the Broward Public Defender’s Office. “Don’t get her pregnant,” he says.

Later, Farmer is heard asking his deputies to remove a second defendant who lost his temper and started shouting expletives. “Do you want to be held in contempt?” Farmer asks. “You’re definitely helping yourself. Keep going!” The defendant’s lawyer tries to apologize on behalf of his client, but Farmer sounds more interested in how long it’s taking to remove him. “What the f—” he starts to say before catching himself.

Less than a half-hour later, Farmer is in a more jovial mood as a case is called involving a defendant with the last name Jackson.

“Mr. Jackson if you’re nasty,” the judge says, paraphrasing a line from a 1980s Janet Jackson song. “It’s Tito! It’s Marlon.”

When one of the lawyers in court riffs off the judge’s comment by suggesting it was Marlon Wayans, Farmer plays along, referencing “In Living Color,” a 1990s sketch comedy series that featured Wayans and three of his brothers.

“Two snaps up and a sweater,” the judge says. “He likes it when the Oilers play the Packers. He used to be a tight end and now he’s a wide receiver.”

The comments were originally spoken on the TV show as gay double entendres.

The JQC was not amused.

“What would the victim of a crime think if he or she observed the irreverent and party-like demeanor of Judge Farmer on any given day?” the commission reasoned in its recommendation, which needs the approval of the Florida Supreme Court to become final.

It didn’t help, the JQC reasoned, that Farmer did not show up for a hearing to defend his actions.

“His comments and behavior in the courtroom were beyond the pale,” said attorney Bill Gelin, who maintains a courthouse-themed blog that exposed Farmer’s alleged misconduct.

Farmer couldn’t be reached for comment Thursday evening despite an attempt to contact him on his cellphone.

Rafael Olmeda can be reached at moc.lenitnesnus@ademlor or 954-356-4457. Follow him on Threads.net/@rafael.olmeda.