[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 58 (Thursday, March 30, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1085-S1086]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  TRIBUTE TO SHEILA R. TILLERSON ADAMS

 Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, I would like to offer my 
congratulations the Honorable Sheila R. Tillerson Adams on her recent 
retirement as chief and administrative judge of the Circuit Court for 
Prince George's County and Seventh Judicial Circuit of Maryland and to 
thank her for her long career of distinguished public service. Judge 
Adams served as the administrative judge for 12 years.
  Judge Adams has been a trailblazer, the first Black woman to serve as 
a judge in Prince George's County. She graduated from Morgan State 
University in May 1979 with a bachelor of science degree in psychology, 
cum laude. She received her juris doctor degree from Howard University 
School of Law in May 1982 and a master of laws in taxation from 
Georgetown University Law Center in May 1987. She gained admission to 
the Maryland Bar in June 1983, the Federal Bar in July 1983, and the 
Supreme Court in May 1992.
  Judge Adams began her legal career in 1982 and, in 1984, became only 
the second Black female State's attorney in Prince George's County, 
after being hired by the State's attorney at the time, Arthur M. 
``Bud'' Marshall. She was appointed by then-Governor William Donald 
Schaefer to the District Court of Maryland in Prince George's County in 
June 1993. She served with distinction in that capacity for 3 years 
before she was elevated to the Circuit Court for Prince George's County 
by Governor Schaefer's successor, Parris Glendening, in 1996. On 
September 4, 2010, following the Retirement of Judge William D. 
Missouri, then-Maryland Court of Appeals Chief Judge Robert M. Bell 
appointed her as administrative judge of the Circuit Court for Prince 
George's County and the Seventh Judicial Circuit of Maryland.
  Judge Adams led the court through floods and fire that damaged court 
facilities and the COVID-19 pandemic. She persevered. While she served 
as chief and administrative judge, Judge Adams articulated a vision 
statement to exemplify the court's goals when providing judicial 
services: ``The Circuit Court Welcomes All--A Forum for Justice.'' This 
statement has served as the foundation for every initiative, program, 
and goal at the court. Judge Adams expanded the Problem-Solving Courts 
to provide greater assistance to youth and adults facing a myriad of 
challenges. She established the Veterans, Re-Entry, Truancy Reduction, 
Juvenile Diversion, and Back on Track Courts to help people who have 
served in the military, people who struggle with substance issues, 
students with truancy problems, and the formerly incarcerated succeed 
in life. Through counseling, rehabilitation services, and intense 
monitoring, these programs are changing lives for the better every day. 
Judge Adams also focused on providing resources and assistance to 
survivors of elder abuse, sexual assault, domestic violence, and sex 
trafficking with the creation of the Prince George's County Family 
Justice Center--PGCFJC--an initiative of the circuit court. With more 
than 21 on-site partners, the PGCFJC provides a full array of colocated 
services through a coordinated, collaborative, and hope-centered 
advocacy model. Local government and private community-based 
organizations work together and efficiently meet survivors' needs.

[[Page S1086]]

  As the COVID-19 pandemic rampaged for nearly 3 years, Judge Adams 
enhanced the court's technological advancements and accessibility to 
the public, holding hearings and trials virtually, and providing 
litigants Zoom links via a website that provided all the information 
they needed to attend judicial proceedings. She maintained health and 
safety protocols in the courthouse to keep everyone safe. She also 
focused on security and led the way for the design and construction of 
a security checkpoint near the courthouse. Delivery vehicles now must 
go through a checkpoint where the Prince George's County Sheriff's 
Office K-9 Team looks for any hazardous or explosive materials inside 
them. Another security measure that Judge Adams established was a 
security command center complete with IT workers who monitor hundreds 
of security cameras throughout the courthouse complex. Designated 
officials at the center can monitor the courthouse complex 24/7. This 
state-of-the-art center was one of Judge Adam's primary security-
related goals.
  Once the pandemic restrictions were lifted, Judge Adams implemented a 
new case management system called Maryland Electronic Courts, MDEC. Her 
goal was to transition court operations to an electronic system that is 
nearly paperless. With MDEC, attorneys are required to utilize 
electronic filing when representing clients in civil and criminal 
cases. Electronic filing is optional for litigants representing 
themselves. Employees also can access files virtually via the online 
system instead of having to hunt down paper files. Judge Adams 
modernized the court to make it a dignified space to resolve disputes 
and collaborated with many justice partners throughout the county to 
provide enhanced judicial services. A fearless and bold leader, Judge 
Adams' tenure and leadership will continue to impact Prince George's 
County and the legal system for years to come.
  Judge Adams cochairs the Law Links Committee of the Prince George's 
County Bar Association and has done so since 1993. Law Links is a paid 
summer internship program with local law firms and legal departments in 
the county that is committed to broadening the aspirations and 
possibilities of young people. It combines work experience with a law 
and leadership institute. All participants in the program are Prince 
George's County high school students.
  Throughout Judge Adams' exemplary career, she has received many 
awards and honors. Most recently, the J. Franklyn Bourne Bar 
Association presented Judge Adams with the Wayne K. Curry Spirit of 
Excellence Award for her trailblazing leadership. In May 2022, she was 
awarded the 2022 Gladys Noon Spellman Public Service Award at the 37th 
Annual Prince George's County Women's History Month Celebration. Last 
April, the Prince George's County Commission for Women presented Judge 
Adams with the 2022 Trailblazing Woman Award for her extraordinary 
legal career and achievements.
  Judge Adams is not the only public servant in her family. She is 
married to Timothy ``Tim'' J. Adams, the first Black mayor of Bowie in 
the 138-year history of the city. I thank both of them for their public 
service and wish Judge Adams a happy, well-earned retirement.

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