Justice Adams is the Administrative Judge for Manhattan Civil Supreme Court. She was appointed to this position by Chief Administrative Judge Joseph A. Zayas and First Deputy Chief Administrative Judge Norman St. George. The appointment was made with the approval of Chief Judge Rowan D. Wilson and after consultation with Presiding Justice Dianne T. Renwick of the Appellate Division, First Department. She oversees the day-to-day operation of one of the State’s busiest courts of civil jurisdiction including 60 Supreme Court Justices, 285 court staff (non-uniform), 104 court staff (uniform), and 121 chambers staff.
"Judge Adams is a skilled jurist, known for her fairness, sound judgment, leadership abilities, and extensive civil practice experience and understanding of court operations. She is widely admired for her numerous volunteer efforts both in promoting the diversity and inclusiveness of New York’s bench and advancing access to justice within New York’s underrepresented communities,” said Chief Administrative Judge Zayas.
“Both Judge Adams’ record of service on the bench and extra-judicial activities reflect her deep commitment to equal justice and a diverse, inclusive judiciary and non-judicial workforce. She is an energetic leader whose knowledge of court operations, passion for the law and justice, and high ethical standards will prove assets to the New York County Supreme Court’s Civil Term and all those served by the Court,” said First Deputy Chief Administrative Judge St. George.
Prior to her appointment, Justice Adams was an Acting Supreme Court Justice in New York County from 2020 to 2024. This included a special assignment of cases affiliated with the Adult Survivor’s Act, and the Coogan Law, which protects child actors’ earning. She also conducted jury trials for all types of civil litigation including, toxic torts (asbestos and talc), general negligence, medical malpractice, contracts, commercial disputes and motor vehicle accidents. Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, she oversaw all litigation involving the New York City Transit Authority, in New York County.
Before her election to the New York City Civil Court in November of 2017, Justice Adams practiced nearly twenty years as a litigator in the New York State Courts. She was a partner at a Manhattan based, women owned law firm, and founded a Manhattan based litigation law firm where she was the managing partner. Before becoming a judge, she received a Proclamation from the New York State Assembly in recognition of her volunteer legal work at the Eviction Intervention Services Clinic.
Her judicial assignments have included Criminal Court and Family Court. In 2019, Justice Adams was chosen by the Office of Court Administration to be one of the six judges to oversee the newly formed “Raise the Age” part in Family Court. She was chosen for this role because of her holistic approach to adjudicating troubled youth and alternatives to incarceration. The “Raise the Age” part, formed in 2019, was created to adjudicate children under the age of 18 as minors in Family Court, in certain situations, instead of adults in Criminal Court.
She was formerly the co-chair of the New York County Lawyers Association Civil Court Section and formerly the chairperson of the Board of Directors for the Columbian Lawyers Association, First Judicial Department. Currently, she a member of the executive board for the Columbian Lawyers Association, First Judicial Department, the National Organization of Italian American Women, and the New York County Lawyers Association.
Every summer, Justice Adams hosts students from law schools, colleges and high schools. She exposes these students to the courtroom, to trials, and gives weekly lectures. Many of her prior interns have gone on to become public servants, and associates at law firms.
Judge Adams strongly supports mentorship to promote interest in the legal profession and court careers, as well as a pathway to the bench for attorneys from underrepresented populations. The Franklin H. Williams Judicial Commission (part of the Office of Court Administration) chose Justice Adams to serve as a Judicial Mentor in the Special Master’s Program. The Franklin H. Williams Judicial Commission is committed to ensuring fair and respectful treatment for all who enter or serve in the courts, and to eliminate barriers to equity. In her role, Justice Adams focuses on inspiring attorneys from underrepresented communities to become judges.
The Richard Failla LGBTQ Commission (part of the Office of Court Administration) also selected Justice Adams to be a judicial mentor. The Richard Failla LGBTQ Commission addresses issues facing the LGBTQ community for both employees and litigants. Justice Adams fosters and promotes a pathway to the judiciary for LGBTQ attorneys.
She has presented Continuing Legal Education courses for the New York State Bar Association, the New York County Lawyers Association, New York Women’s Bar Association, New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers, Columbian Lawyers Association, First Judicial Department, the Brehon Law Society, and the Puerto Rican Bar Association.
Justice Adams is the proud recipient of awards from the New York County Lawyers Association (in grateful appreciation and recognition of outstanding dedication and contribution to the Court and the effective administration of justice), the New York City Brehon Law Society (for exemplary service to the judiciary, and fellowship, and mentorship to the law society), the Defense Association of New York (distinguished jurist award), the New York State Bar Association, Trial Lawyers Section, Peter C. Kopff Trial Advocacy Award (for commitment to representing the interests of those who appear in court with integrity and adherence to the highest ethical standards), the New York County Lawyers Association Award for Excellence in the Judiciary, the Columbian Lawyers Association, First Judicial Department Award for Excellence in the Judiciary. She is the recipient of the Betty Weinberg Ellerin Mentorship Award from the Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York, the Harold Baer, Jr., Award (in recognition for service to the legal community) from the Network of Bar Leaders, the Inspiration Award from the New York Chapter of the Coalition of Women’s Initiatives in Law, the Chief Justice Harlan Fisk Memorial Award from the New York City Trial Lawyers Alliance (for outstanding contribution to American jurisprudence), and the Small Claims Arbitration Association, Legal Community Service Award.
The New York State Assembly has given Justice Adams a Proclamation in recognition of her exemplary service to the community. The New York City Council has given her a Citation in recognition of her community service.
She is a member of several bar associations including, the Brehon Law Society, Columbian Lawyers Association, First Judicial Department, Dominican Bar Association, Jewish Lawyers Guild, the National Italian American Bar Association, New York County Lawyers Association, New York State Bar Association, Trial Lawyers Section, and Torts, Insurance and Compensation Law Section, the Women’s Bar Association of New York, and the Women Trial Lawyer Caucus. Additionally, she is a member of Judges and Lawyers Breast Cancer Alert, National Association of Women Judges, National Organization of Italian American Women, and the Penn State Alumni Association.
Justice Adams graduated from Penn State University, with a B.A. in Journalism, and she received her J.D from Hofstra University Law School.