Alto L. Adams

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]

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 byFred P. Cone
Preceded bySeat established.
Succeeded byJohn E. Mathews
Personal details
Born(1899-01-31)January 31, 1899
Walton County, Florida
DiedFebruary 20, 1988(1988-02-20) (aged 89)
SpouseCarra Williams

Biography

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 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
  1. "Heritage of Leadership". Archived from the original on 2008-01-13. Retrieved 2008-05-16.
  2. Joseph A. Boyd Jr., Randall Reder, "A History of the Florida Supreme Court", University of Miami Law Review (1981), p. 1053.
  3. Joseph A. Boyd Jr., Randall Reder, "A History of the Florida Supreme Court", University of Miami Law Review (1981), p. 1059.
  4. Joseph A. Boyd Jr., Randall Reder, "A History of the Florida Supreme Court", University of Miami Law Review (1981), p. 1062.


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