Latest news with #FloridaStateLegislature
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Judge suspended for making ‘G-rated dad jokes' about defendants. He claims he was ‘trying to lighten the tension'
A judge in Florida was suspended for telling "inappropriate, undignified, or discourteous" jokes to help "lighten the tension" in the courtroom. The Florida Judicial Qualifications Commission has indefinitely suspended Broward Circuit Judge Gary Farmer Jr for making jokes during his hearings, according to Law & Crime. Many of the comments reportedly occurred during felony criminal hearings last August. During one case, a defendant had reportedly impregnated three women all within nine months of each other. 'OK, you've been busy,' Farmer said during the session. 'You were just shooting all over the place! 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.' Later he joked about ordering the man to wear a condom. 'I'm going to order that you wear a condom at all times. For your own good. OK? Probation is going to check. No, I'm kidding. I'm kidding," Farmer said. When the defendant's appointed defender turned out to be a woman, the judge told the man "don't get her pregnant." During another case, a defendant was named Georgia, and Farmer began singing a song about "sweet Georgia" and making jokes about peaches. 'You're supposed to say 'peachy.' How you doin', Georgia? Peachy!' Farmer said. Though it's unclear why, Farmer also reportedly "quoted extensively" from a sketch performed by Marlon Wayans on "In Living Color," according to the commission. Farmer knew his jokes weren't landing, admitting at one point during a trial that he was telling 'exceptionally, exceptionally bad jokes.' But he appears to have persisted. During a bond hearing, a defense attorney representing a suspect facing first-degree kidnapping charges joked with the judge about the nature of the kidnapping. 'I gotta tell you judge, in the history of kidnappings, this would be the first time someone gets kidnapped and taken to a strip club," the defense attorney said. Farmer replied: 'I was about to say, I think there's a long list of husbands who have claimed exactly that in the past. We've all been taken against our will.' The judge responded to the allegations that his jokes were "inappropriate" and "undignified" by insisting they were meant to be helpful, not harmful. 'These jokes were said to lighten tension, reduce stress for criminal defendants, and show a sense of humanity,' Farmer said. 'They generally are G-rated 'Dad jokes' that are corny but not offensive, and were not degrading to the solemnity of the proceedings.' Farmer previously served in the Florida State Legislature as a Democrat. It's unclear when or if he'll return to the bench.
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Northwest Florida Special Election: What voters should know
NORTHWEST FLORIDA (WKRG) — Polls open Tuesday morning at 7 for the Special Election for Florida's First Congressional District and the Special Primary Election for the open District 3 seat in the Florida State Legislature. Here's everything Northwest Florida voters should know before heading to the polls. Jimmy Patronis (Republican) Gay Valimont (Democrat) Stephen Broden (No Party Affiliation) This only accounts for most of Santa Rosa County and the top half of Okaloosa County. This seat came open after Joel Rudman resigned from his seat to run for the open Florida District 1 Representative seat following Matt Gaetz's resignation. Reminder: Florida is a closed primary state, so voters will only be able to vote for candidates within their party. Nathan Boyles (Republican) Hayden Hudson (Republican) Rena McQuaig (Republican) Wade A. Merritt (Republican) Shon O. Owens (Republican) Joshua Sik (Republican) Cynthia 'Cindy' Smith (Republican) Jamie Lee Wells (Republican) Dondre Wise is the only Democrat who has qualified, so the Special Primary Election for the Democratic Party has been canceled. sampleDownload FINAL-2025-April-Special-Sample-BallotDownload to see their sample ballots by entering their name and date of birth. Voters in Escambia, Okaloosa and Santa Rosa Counties can all find their designated polling location online:Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
14-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
DeSantis: Florida now has 'toughest' immigration enforcement laws in the United States
The Brief Gov. Ron DeSantis said Florida now has the "toughest" immigration enforcement laws in America. The Florida State Legislature passed two bills focused on immigration enforcement in Florida, part of a special session and after weeks of disagreement with Gov. DeSantis. Among the laws: Allocates nearly $300M to hire, train, and enforce immigration; pulls in-state tuition from "Dreamers," created the State Board of Immigration Enfrocement, and bars the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles from issuing driver's licenses or ID cards to undocumented people. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a number of bills into law on Thursday that seek to address immigration enforcement in the state – and in step with President Donald Trump's efforts to tackle immigration enforcement across the nation. Florida now has the "toughest" state laws on immigration enforcement in the United States of America, Gov. DeSantis said. The bills – part of a large immigration package and after a brief squabble between DeSantis and state Republicans weeks ago – eliminate in-state tuition for undocumented immigrants, makes it a state crime to enter Florida undocumented, and mandates "automatic death penalty" for immigrants convicted of murder, among others provisions, Gov. DeSantis said following the vote and signing. Opponents said some of these measures would likely be challenged in court. Under two bill proposals – identical in the Florida Senate and House – $298 million would be allocated to hire more than 50 law enforcement officers focused on enforcing immigration laws, as well as money for equipment, training, and bonuses for those who assist federal partners, the Associated Press reported. Here is what else was included in the bills: The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles cannot issue driver's licenses or ID cards to undocumented persons Creates the State Board of Immigration Enforcement under the Florida Department of Law Enforcement Creates the State Immigration Enforcement Council under the state Board of Immigration Enforcement Revokes in-state tuition for DACA students, also referred to as "Dreamers." These are often undocumented people who were brought to the United States as children. Gives the Governor power to suspend "any executive or administrative state, county, or municipal officer who violates his or her duties" to conduct immigration enforcement. Lists out penalties for various crimes committed by undocumented persons, from voting in an election to "automatic death" for murder, according to bill text and DeSantis' post on X. What they're saying "Florida leads the way yet again, as we have done on issue after issue over these many years. We are here again doing it again on doing everything we can to end the illegal immigration crisis in this country once and for all. We here all in florida have a responsibility to be strong partners with the Trump administration as it seeks to restore the rule of law, remove illegal aliens from our communities, and protect public safety. Today, the Florida Legislature has passed the strongest legislation to combat illegal immigration of any state in the entire country" - Gov. Ron DeSantis, Feb. 13, 2025 State Rep. Anna Eskamani told FOX 35's Garrett Wymer on FOX 35 News+ that the passing of the bills was unfortunate, but not unexpected. "Immigration is a big enough problem so that I don't think we're ever done discussing how we can fight the crisis" - Florida House Speaker Daniel Perez. "The labor shortage will worsen. Prices will increase." - State Senator Carlos Smith of Orange County, in response to the nearly $300M investment. "The more you can reduce the free stuff benefits, the more you will reduce that form of illegal immigration. I also think it's just wrong to keep Floridians out of the University of Florida or Florida State because there is an illegal immigrant there." - State Sen. Randy Fine, who co-introduced the bills. "It's likely to be litigated and struck down in court" - Sen. Smith on the death penalty provision. Last week, Gov. DeSantis announced an agreement between Florida Highway Patrol and the Department of Homeland Security to help enforce immigration efforts in the state of Florida. Under the agreement, state troopers would essentially be deputized to help enforce federal immigration laws. The Source Information in this article comes from Gov. DeSantis' press conference, monitoring procedures in the Florida Legislature, Associated Press reporting, and previous FOX 35 News reporting.
