On Wednesday, September 10, 2025, the Orlando Sentinel reported that Orange County Judge Martha Adams was publicly reprimanded by the Florida Supreme Court for displaying rude behavior towards local prosecutors. The reprimand was delivered by Chief Justice Carlos Muñiz at the Supreme Court in Tallahassee.
The Florida Judicial Qualifications Commission had previously found in February that Adams violated the state’s judicial conduct code while presiding over criminal cases in Orange County. The commission stated that Adams exhibited “biased, impatient, undignified and discourteous behavior” towards members of the Orange-Osceola State Attorney’s Office.
According to the commission, Adams called one prosecutor an “ass” and indicated she would start being a “bitch” to the state attorney’s office in her rulings. While judicial records do not specify the exact dates of these incidents, Adams was served with a notice of investigation in October 2024.
During the reprimand, Chief Justice Muñiz stated, “You engaged in behavior that our judiciary cannot and will not tolerate.” He emphasized that biased behavior and expressions are “deeply damaging to the integrity of the courts and to public confidence in the fair and impartial administration of justice.” Muñiz further added that treating every litigant with civility and respect is a fundamental judicial obligation.
Following the proceeding, Adams’ attorney, Thomas Sommerville, stated that the judge would not be making any comments. However, judicial records indicate that Adams admitted to the commission’s findings and accepted the recommended discipline.
The records also show that Adams had been serving on the Orange County bench since 2007 and had no prior disciplinary issues or similar complaints. Adams reportedly became frustrated with administrative and procedural issues within the state attorney’s office. This frustration led to her calling an assistant state attorney a derogatory name in court and telling a group of prosecutors that she would reciprocate if their supervisor continued to make her life difficult. She also suggested that she would rule against the state attorney’s office.
At the request of the commission, Adams sent apology letters to those affected by her behavior and requested a transfer from the county’s criminal division. Currently, she serves in the county civil division, according to her profile on the Florida Ninth Judicial Circuit Court website.
In a May ruling, the Supreme Court agreed to the reprimand, acknowledging that Adams’ behavior could have warranted a harsher punishment. However, the court concurred with the commission’s assessment that her expressions of regret, attempts to apologize, and her otherwise unblemished record justified leniency. The court stated that, given these mitigating factors, discipline short of suspension was sufficient.
Source: Orlando Sentinel
