On Tuesday, May 20, 2025, the Florida Supreme Court granted a motion to postpone a public reprimand for Orange County Judge Martha Cannon Adams, originally scheduled for June 4, 2025.
The case is entitled “In the Matter of Judge Martha Cannon Adams,” with case number SC2025-0278.
The decision followed a request from Adams’ attorney to reschedule due to a pre-planned, non-refundable international trip. The court removed the case from its calendar and will set a new date for the reprimand after June 12, 2025.
The reprimand stems from a disciplinary action initiated by the Judicial Qualifications Commission (JQC) against Judge Adams for unprofessional conduct toward prosecutors in the Ninth Circuit State Attorney’s Office. On May 8, 2025, the Florida Supreme Court accepted a stipulation and disciplinary recommendations from the JQC, formally reprimanding Adams for her behavior while presiding over criminal cases.
The JQC investigation found that Adams displayed bias, impatience, and discourtesy in her interactions with assistant state attorneys. Specific incidents included Adams referring to one prosecutor as an “ass” and threatening to disrupt the life of a State Attorney’s Office employee. She also implied that the State Attorney’s Office was conspiring to remove her from the bench, stating she would need to issue harsh rulings in response. These actions violated Canons 1, 2A, 3B(4), and 3B(5) of the Code of Judicial Conduct, which mandate integrity, impartiality, and respectful treatment of all parties in court proceedings.
Adams, a judge with 17 years of service, had no prior disciplinary record. The JQC noted her lack of previous complaints, her expressed remorse, and her written apologies to those affected as mitigating factors. While such conduct could warrant harsher penalties, including suspension, the JQC determined that a public reprimand was sufficient given the circumstances.
The motion to continue the reprimand cited a scheduling conflict. Adams was set to travel from Orlando to Edinburgh, Scotland, on the evening of June 4, 2025, for a trip planned and paid for months in advance. The non-refundable nature of the flight prompted the request to reschedule the court appearance to a date after her return on June 11, 2025.
The Supreme Court’s order confirmed the rescheduling and listed several individuals served with the notice, including Adams, her attorney, and other legal representatives involved in the case. The court did not specify a new date for the reprimand but indicated it would be set later.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
