Fulton County Superior Court - Atlanta - Georgia

185 Central Avenue, SW
Justice Center Tower
Suite T-4905 / Courtroom 4E
Atlanta, Georgia 30303

404-893-6608: Fax Number

404-730-4305: Judicial Assistant - Gloria Waldren
404-730-4308: Staff Attorney - Amira Arshad
404-730-4170: Case Manager - Gwen Turner
404-730-4598: Court Reporter - BruceAnne Milberger

Kimberly M. Esmond Adams began her term as Judge on the Fulton County Superior Court January 1, 2009, following her election by the citizens of Fulton County. During the 2008 General Election, Judge Adams, a political newcomer, emerged from a highly-qualified field of eight candidates as the leading vote-getter and advanced to the December 2 run-off election. She earned a decisive victory in the run-off garnering 62 percent of the votes cast.

Prior to her election to the Fulton Superior Court, Judge Adams served for nearly six years in the Office of the Fulton County District Attorney, ultimately as a Chief Senior Assistant District Attorney.

Judge Adams began her public service career in 2002 after more than three years of practice as an employment attorney with Constangy, Brooks & Smith, LLC, an Atlanta-based labor and employment boutique. While at Constangy, Judge Adams's practice was focused in two general areas: representing employers in employment matters and providing advice on litigation prevention techniques and strategies, including employment-related training. Judge Adams also represented public sector entities in general civil litigation, including civil rights and ad valorem taxation matters.

Prior to joining Constangy, Judge Adams worked in higher education administration. She also provided research assistance to a Scholar-in-Residence at the Southern Education Foundation with a book-writing project funded by the Ford Foundation.

During her tenure in the Fulton District Attorney’s Office, Judge Adams prosecuted major felony cases involving homicide and crimes committed against women and children such as rape and child molestation. Judge Adams successfully tried numerous high-profile cases, including the kidnapping, torture and dismemberment of Chaunson McKibbens who was on the FBI's Most Wanted list for several years before being apprehended. In addition, she routinely led community awareness initiatives.

In 2008, just before leaving the District Attorney’s Office to run for the bench, Judge Adams coordinated a national symposium designed to bring attention to the teen dating violence epidemic in our communities. The Relationship Abuse Prevention Summit, attended by middle, high school and college students, their parents, counselors, teachers, administrators and community leaders, outlined warning signs along with strategies for eradicating this senseless violence and destruction of young lives.

A past president of the Georgia Association of Black Women Attorneys (GABWA), Judge Adams has served in a number of leadership capacities, both professionally and in her community. She has served on the boards of the Atlanta Technical College Foundation, The Georgia Association of Black Women Attorneys Foundation, the Boys and Girls Club of Metro Atlanta - West End Cluster, and the Restorative Justice Board of the Atlanta Municipal Court. She recently completed a term on the board of The Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation.

In addition, Judge Adams has served as an officer of the Cascade United Methodist Church in Atlanta where she has been a member for more than 25 years. She serves on the Finance Committee, sings with the Praise Team and New Advent Choir and advises the Youth Ushers. She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, and she is a charter member of the Tau Epsilon Omega Chapter serving the East Point and College Park communities. Judge Adams's service has extended to the global community as well through missions and outreach work in Africa.

Judge Adams has received several honors and awards, most notably, Who's Who in Law and Business by the Atlanta Business Chronicle; Woman of the Year - "Ordinary Woman With Extraordinary Talents" by Women Looking Ahead News Magazine, and Special Unit Trial Attorney of the Year by the Fulton County District Attorney's Office. She also is an alumnus of Leadership Georgia.

Judge Adams received her Bachelor of Arts Degree from Howard University in Washington, D.C. She earned her Juris Doctor degree from the Notre Dame Law School. She is a member of the Georgia Bar and admitted to practice before all of the trial courts in Georgia, the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, the United States District Court for the Middle District of Georgia, the Georgia Court of Appeals and the Georgia Supreme Court.

She is married to Michael Adams, and they are the proud parents of one teenage son, Michael.