Martha C. Adams

Professional career

• While she has had a generally clean judicial record, she faced a public reprimand in 2025 for inappropriate courtroom behavior toward the State Attorney’s Office
• The Florida Supreme Court formally ordered Judge Adams to appear for a public reprimand on May 8, 2025, emphasizing that her comments were “well outside the bounds of what is acceptable for members of our judiciary”
• Judge in the Ninth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida, which covers Orange and Osceola counties
• The investigation found that she exhibited biased, impatient, undignified, and discourteous behavior toward members of the Ninth Circuit State Attorney’s Office

Education

Additional information

• She has been on the bench since 2007, presiding over criminal and civil cases in Orange County.
• In December 2024, the Judicial Qualifications Commission (JQC) voted to bring formal charges against Judge Adams following reports of misconduct while presiding over criminal cases.
• Specific incidents included calling an assistant state attorney an “ass” and making statements suggesting she would have to start “being a ‘bitch’” in her rulings due to perceived conspiracies against her Judge Adams acknowledged her misconduct, cooperated fully with the JQC, and sent apology letters to those affected.
• Her role requires adherence to the Canons of Judicial Conduct, which mandate impartiality, dignity, and respect toward all parties in the courtroom
• The Florida Supreme Court accepted a stipulation that she violated multiple canons of judicial conduct, including rules requiring judges to act impartially and uphold the integrity of the judiciary.
• Judge Martha Adams is a long-serving member of the Ninth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida.