The historic appointment of Judge Adams in June 1993 made her the first African American woman appointed to the District Court of Maryland in Prince George's County. She served on that Court with distinction for three years before being elevated to the Circuit Court for Prince George’s County.
In 2010, the Honorable Robert M. Bell, former Chief Judge of the Maryland Court of Appeals, appointed Judge Adams to the position of Administrative Judge of the Circuit Court for Prince George’s County and the Seventh Judicial Circuit of Maryland, which includes Prince George’s, Charles, Calvert and St. Mary’s Counties.
As the Administrative Judge, Judge Adams is committed to ensuring that the courts in the Seventh Judicial Circuit of Maryland meet the needs of the citizens that they serve. Under her leadership, the Vision statement of the Circuit Court for Prince George’s County was changed to The Circuit Court Welcomes All - A Fair Forum for Justice. It is a forum that addresses the needs of all citizens.
Judge Adams has also championed such causes as Re-Entry, Veterans Court, the plight of at-risk youth, and the Prince George's County Family Justice Center, which is the only Family Justice Center in the country operating under the authority of the Court.
She is the distinguished recipient of numerous awards including the following:
- Visionary Award for her effective leadership and visionary guidance as the true champion of the Problem Solving Courts
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Lifetime Achievement in Law Award as well as the prestigious honor of being named one of the Top 100 Women in Maryland by the Daily Record
- Governor’s Victim Assistance Award from the Maryland State Board of Victim Services
- Founders Award for her outstanding leadership and community service by the Mission of Love Charities, Inc.
Judge Adams is a native of Washington, DC. She graduated from Morgan State University with Cum Laude Honors in May 1979 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology. She received her Juris Doctor from Howard University School of Law in May 1982 and in May 1987, she received a Master of Laws in Taxation from Georgetown University Law Center. She was admitted to the Maryland Bar in June 1983; the Federal Bar in July 1983; and the U.S. Supreme Court in May 1992.
She is also a member of the Prince George's County Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated and the Mount Rose Maryland Chapter of the Links, Incorporated and is a Past President of the J. Franklyn Bourne Bar Association, Incorporated.
About the Prince George's County Commission for Women
The Prince George's County Commission for Women is a statutorily appointed advisory body comprised of eleven women that serve to improve the quality of life for women and girls by advocating, initiating and championing programs to uplift and strengthen families and communities.