Every so often, the line between the robes of justice and a comedy set at an open mic night gets a little blurry. Sometimes, as seen recently in Broward County, Florida, it all but disappears. Judge Gary M. Farmer Jr., a circuit court judge and former Florida state senator, has been officially suspended—without pay, no less—after state investigators determined his penchant for “exceptionally bad” jokes had gone from merely groan-worthy to, well, genuinely problematic. According to a report from FOX 5 DC, it appears Florida’s judiciary would prefer its courtrooms G-rated in decorum, if not always in humor.

The Gavel Falls (on Punchlines)

Farmer’s tendency to lace court proceedings with what he later admitted were “exceptionally, exceptionally bad jokes” came under the microscope after he presided over a felony case in August 2024. As detailed in court documents cited by FOX 5 DC, when told the defendant was expecting triplets by different mothers, Farmer reportedly quipped, “OK, you’ve been busy. You were just shooting all over the place!” He continued, “That’s good. Do you know their names? First and last? Romantic, are you? Don’t tell Susie about Jane. Don’t tell Jane about Mary. God bless you, man. One’s enough.” The court filing further recounts Farmer joking that he would order the defendant “to wear a condom at all times,” before immediately clarifying, “No, I’m kidding. I’m kidding.”

The investigative panel, as reported by FOX 5 DC, laid out multiple examples of Farmer’s comedic improvisation, including a courtroom serenade in a case involving a defendant named Georgia, with references to songs like “Sweet Georgia” and “She gets her peaches down in Georgia.” Court records also indicate Farmer recommended the defendant get a particular female attorney, adding the caveat not to “get her pregnant”—again, with a laugh.

Notably, the panel referenced an incident in which Farmer, presiding over another felony case, quoted at length from a vintage “In Living Color” comedy sketch that mocked gay people. Farmer later claimed, in statements documented by FOX 5 DC, that he forgot his microphone was on but recognized the remarks were inappropriate and issued an apology.

Further groaners, found in filings referenced by FOX 5 DC, included puns such as “Spring is here. I got so excited I wet my plants,” and, “What did the shirt say to the pair of pants? Wassup britches!” The commission commented, “Apparently, these are some of what you referred to as your ‘exceptionally, exceptionally bad jokes.’”

Dad Jokes as Judicial Misconduct?

While puns and wordplay might reliably elicit reluctant smiles at family dinners, their place in felony courtrooms raises some tricky questions. According to findings from the Florida Judicial Qualifications Commission, as quoted by FOX 5 DC, Farmer’s ongoing “extensive misconduct, occurring over a lengthy period of time,” was deemed damaging to the public’s perception of the judicial branch and demonstrated a “present unfitness to serve.”

Farmer’s lawyer responded in a court filing, cited in FOX 5 DC’s reporting, saying the judge “generally admits to having made the jokes or remarks,” and that these jokes were intended “to lighten tension, reduce stress for criminal defendants, and show a sense of humanity.” The attorney noted most were “G-rated dad jokes that are corny but not offensive and were not degrading to the solemnity of the proceedings,” yet conceded some were “racy.” Farmer, in both a probable cause hearing and through attorney statements as documented by FOX 5 DC, apologized for the “racy” jokes and admitted upon reflection that they were “inappropriate.”

The commission’s concerns, in the context of FOX 5 DC’s reporting, extended beyond questionable punchlines. Farmer was further accused of exceeding permitted judicial leave, showing poor attendance, demonstrating bias or predetermination, and—most gravely—failing to provide due process to litigants and lawyers.

The Curtain Closes (For Now)

The Florida Supreme Court, acting on the recommendation of its Investigative Panel, suspended Farmer without pay. As FOX 5 DC notes, the suspension takes effect at precisely 11:59 p.m. on a Monday—a detail that perhaps only a bureaucrat (or a comic timing enthusiast) could love.

So, how many “wet my plants” puns does it take before a judge’s gavel is replaced with a “Closed for Renovation” sign? It’s a question both judicial and comedic. The episode prompts reflection on the narrow space where judicial humanity meets impartiality. Judges are not robots, and a touch of personality can humanize proceedings. But as the commission’s findings—relayed by FOX 5 DC—make all too clear, when the scales tip and jokes overshadow due process or dignity, the risks far outweigh the rewards.

For now, Florida’s courts will operate with a bit less levity, and perhaps, a little more decorum. Is this the universe’s way of telling us dad jokes are best reserved for backyard barbecues, not the bar of justice? As in comedy and in law, timing—and judgment—is everything.