[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 52 (Wednesday, March 22, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E240]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




HONORING THE RETIREMENT OF JUDGE SHEILA TILLERSON ADAMS AND CELEBRATING 
        HER CONTRIBUTIONS TO MARYLAND AND PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. STENY H. HOYER

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 22, 2023

  Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of one of the finest 
judges to ever serve Prince George's County and the state of Maryland: 
my friend, Sheila R. Tillerson Adams--Chief and Administrative Judge of 
the Circuit Court for Prince George's County and the Seventh Judicial 
Circuit of Maryland. We in Maryland have long benefitted from her keen 
legal mind, her character, and her commitment to service. After a long 
and distinguished career, she retired from the Bench at the end of last 
year.
  Sheila has been a trailblazer ever since she started practicing law 
decades ago. In 1984, she became only the second Black woman to serve 
as a State's Attorney in Prince George's County. She quickly 
demonstrated her aptitude not only as an attorney but also as a leader 
through her work for her office's sexual assault and child abuse unit. 
Her important work to uphold justice for vulnerable Marylanders 
continued when she became Deputy County Attorney four years later. 
Recognizing Sheila's legal prowess and her deep knowledge of the 
county, Governor William Donald Schaefer appointed her to the District 
Court of Maryland in Prince George's County in 1993--making her the 
first Black woman in history to serve as a judge on that court. 
Governor Parris Glendening elevated her to serve on the bench of the 
Prince George's County Circuit three years later. After Sheila's 
fourteen successful years as an associate judge, Maryland Court of 
Appeals Chief Judge Robert Bell selected her to become Administrative 
Judge of the Circuit Court for Prince George's County and the Seventh 
Judicial Circuit of Maryland in 2010.
  Sheila's legacy, however, will not be defined by the titles she held 
or the number of years she served but by all that she accomplished for 
her fellow Prince Georgians. From presiding over high-profile cases to 
ushering in key systematic changes that improved our courts, Sheila's 
commitment to justice never wavered. One of her greatest contributions 
was her successful effort to expand Maryland's Problem-Solving Courts. 
These specialized programs continue to support groups of vulnerable 
Marylanders--such as truants, veterans, people struggling with 
addiction, at-risk youth, and formerly-incarcerated individuals--who 
face unique challenges in their communities and in the justice system. 
Similarly, Sheila played a key role in launching the Prince George's 
County Family Justice Center (PGCFJC), which acts as a `one-stop' hub 
where survivors of domestic violence, child abuse, human trafficking, 
elder abuse, and sexual assault can receive counseling, legal 
assistance, safety-planning support, and a variety of other services. 
As a cosponsor of both the original Violence Against Women Act and its 
reauthorization, I have been proud to work with Sheila to support these 
survivors, and I fondly recall touring the PGCFJC with her shortly 
after it opened in 2016. Sheila also helped lead Prince George's County 
through the unprecedented challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic, serving 
as a key member of the Prince George's Forward Task Force.
  When explaining the mission statement of her court, Sheila once said: 
`the Circuit Court welcomes all--a forum for justice.' Although she has 
retired from that court, I am sure this ethos will continue to define 
its work. And I know that Sheila will continue to live by the same 
principles of justice, service, and integrity that she has displayed 
her whole life. She will remain an influential community leader, a 
respected legal expert, and an essential advocate for Maryland's 
families. She ought to know how much I appreciate everything that she 
has done for her county, state, and country, and I look forward to 
seeing all that she will do to build on that progress as she starts 
this exciting new chapter. I ask that all my colleagues join me in 
thanking her for her service and in congratulating her on this 
milestone.

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