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Alto L. Adams

American judge (1899–1988)

Alto L. Adams
Adams in 1947
Chief Justice of the Florida Supreme Court
In office 1949–1951
Justice of the Florida Supreme Court
In office 1940–1951
Appointed by	Fred P. Cone
Preceded by	Seat established.
Succeeded by	John E. Mathews
Personal details
Born	Alto Lee Adams (1899-01-31)January 31, 1899 Walton County, Florida, U.S.
Died	February 20, 1988(1988-02-20) (aged 89)
Spouse	Carra Williams

Alto Lee Adams Sr. (January 31, 1899 – February 20, 1988) was an American judge. He was a justice for the Florida Supreme Court between 1940 and 1951. From 1949 to 1951 Adams served as chief justice.^[1]

Biography[edit]

Born and reared in Walton County, Florida, near DeFuniak Springs,^[2] Adams graduated from the University of Florida College of Law in 1921. While at the University of Florida, he was member of Alpha Phi Epsilon and Florida Blue Key. He also was named a Designated Distinguished Alumnus in 1974.

After gaining admission to the bar, Adams "moved to Ft. Pierce to practice law".^[2] In 1936, he campaigned for the election of Fred P. Cone as Governor of Florida, "and was rewarded for his support by an appointment to the circuit bench in 1938 and to the supreme court in 1940".^[2] In 1940, the Florida Constitution was amended to add a seventh Justice to the Florida Supreme Court, the seat to which Governor Cone appointed Adams.^[2] Adams served on the court until 1951, when he resigned to undertake an unsuccessful campaign for governor.^[3]

In 1967, Governor Claude R. Kirk appointed Adams as an interim justice to fill a vacancy created by the resignation of Stephen C. O'Connell. Kirk had initially attempted to appoint Wade L. Hopping, but Hopping was declared ineligible, not having been a member of the Florida Bar for the requisite ten-year period. Adams served until Hopping met the eligibility requirements in late 1968.^[4]

References[edit]

External links[edit]

• Justice Adams info