'There was in fact a defendant named Jaques Strapp,' says judge defending his corny 'dad jokes'
A judge accused of making inappropriate remarks on the bench told the Florida Judicial Qualifications Commission Tuesday that his comments generally were “G-rated ‘dad jokes’ that are corny but not offensive.”
Judge Gary M. Farmer Jr. of Broward County, Florida, said in a May 6 response to ethics charges his remarks were intended “to lighten tension, reduce stress for criminal defendants and show a sense of humanity.”
The response acknowledged, however, that some comments “were somewhat racy and, upon reflection, were inappropriate.” Farmer said he takes full responsibility for the remarks, and he apologizes for them. He “has taken these lessons to heart” and has refrained from jokes since the filing of the ethics complaint, according to the response.
The response also defended a remark that Farmer made when presiding in a case involving a defendant with the last name Jacques. Farmer had commented on the name of a prior defendant, which he claimed to be one of the best defendant’s names ever. According to the commission, Farmer said the name was Jacques Drapp.
But Farmer said the commission got the name wrong.
“There was in fact a defendant named Jaques Strapp,” the response said.
An investigative ethics panel of the commission had recommended an interim suspension without pay pending the determination of the ethics case.
The Florida Judicial Qualifications Commission began to investigate after September 2024 news coverage of his alleged remarks to a defendant said to be expecting three children from three different mothers.
“You’ve been busy,” Farmer said. “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.”
Farmer was reassigned to the foreclosure division following reports on the remark.
The commission also alleged that Farmer:
• Began singing a song about “Sweet Georgia” when presiding in a case involving a defendant named Georgia Smith. “She gets her peaches down in Georgia. You get your weed in California,” he sang.
• Began singing the song, “My Cherie A’more” when addressing a defendant named Lamour.
• Quoted from a comedy sketch, saying, “Marlon Wayans—In Living Color. Two snaps and a sweater! He likes it when the Oilers play the Packers! He used to be a tight end! Now he’s a wide receiver.”
• Took a plea from a woman awaiting a court-ordered competency evaluation in a separate case. When Farmer questioned her, she knew her birthday, but she mumbled when asked to name the president of the United States. “Close enough,” Farmer replied. During the plea colloquy, Farmer asked whether the defendant was “a MAGA supporter.” He then joked that the defendant “and the former president had something in common now—they were both convicted felons.”
• Responded to a public defender’s “unfortunately” remark after her client answered that former President Joe Biden was the president. “Unfortunately? ‘Unfortunately’ did you say?” he asked. He went on to say Biden was “the greatest president, arguably we’ve ever had in our history.” “Are you a MAGA?” he asked. “Oh my goodness! Oh my gawd.” Later he said he questioned how someone can be “MAGA and a public defender.” “These things are mutually exclusive,” he said.
• Criticized an allegation that a homeless person failed to check in and be at her registered address. “This is a case of an officer taking things to an extreme level,” he said, blaming the problem on “an anal-retentive probation officer.”
• Said during an August hearing, “Spring is here, I got so excited I wet my plants,” and “What did the shirt say to the pair of pants? Wassup britches!”
• Asked an attorney, “Is that grinding sound I hear the gears in your brain working?”
• Said, “Excuse me the deputy twins just walked in. You ’re going to hurt somebody with those eyelashes, girl. Gotta be careful giving a hug.”
• Said, “I was watching Nova last night. … There was a story about a king who was only 12 inches tall. He wasn’t much of a king, but he made a great ruler.”
• Asked a lawyer whether he was a fan of The Flintstones. “They don’t like it in Dubai, though. I don’t know, but the people of Abu Dhabi do,” Farmer said. The attorney replied, “Don’t give up your day job.”
• Said after learning that a defendant’s blind mother may have been receiving the court notices, “I see said the blind man as he picked up his hammer and saw.”
• Said, “My neighbor got one of those chair lifts. I offered her $20 for a ride. I think she’s gonna take me up on it.”
• Said, “I called the incontinence hotline. They told me to hold.”
• Said, “I’m a little bit down. A good friend of mine worked for Pepsi for 30 years. He just got laid off. He tested positive for coke.”
The investigative panel said comments Farmer characterized as “dad jokes” were “actually demeaning and potentially humiliating comments aimed at individual attorneys, court staff, litigants and others over whom Judge Farmer held significant authority.”
The panel noted Farmer’s claim that he was “thinking about doing some night court.”
The investigative panel said the apparent reference to the TV show Night Court “seems to be particularly apt here. However much Judge Farmer believes he is like the fictional Harry Stone, it goes without saying that 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.”
Farmer is represented by Michael E. Dutko Sr., who didn’t immediately reply to an ABA Journal email requesting comment.
Hat tip to Law360, which covered Farmer’s response.
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