House Passes Bill to Name Ft. Pierce Courthouse for Alto Adams, Sr.
Washington, D.C. – Today, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 3193, introduced by Rep. Tom Rooney (R-Fla.), to name the new federal courthouse currently under construction in Ft. Pierce for former Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Alto Lee Adams, Sr. This legislation will name the courthouse at 101 South U.S. 1 the Alto Lee Adams, Sr. United States Courthouse.
“The new federal courthouse under construction in Ft. Pierce will be a great asset to the community and it’s only fitting to dedicate the courthouse in the honor of Alto Lee Adams, Sr,” said Rooney. “Throughout his life Chief Justice Adams was a pillar in Florida and St. Lucie County,” said Rooney. “Chief Justice Adams’ contributions and service to our community deserves to be honored and remembered. I thank my colleagues for their support and for quickly bringing this bill to the floor for consideration.”
Chief Justice Adams was the first graduate of the University of Florida College of Law to become a State Supreme Court Justice and Chief Justice. Chief Justice Adams practiced law in Fort Pierce from 1924-1938 when he was appointed Circuit Court Judge for St. Lucie County. After Florida voters adopted an amendment which created a seventh justice in the State Supreme Court in 1940, Adams was appointed to the court by Governor Fred P. Cone.
Adams served as a justice on the Florida Supreme Court from 1940-1951 and 1967-1968 and as Chief Justice from 1949-1951.
Chief Justice Adams believed it was important to give back to his community and served as President of the Florida State Elks Association in 1937. In 1937, he started a cattle ranch named Adams Ranch in St. Lucie County, which is still run by the Adams family.
Also, from 1937-1938 Chief justice Adams served as the Vice Chairman of the State Welfare Board.