The Honorable Henry Lee Adams, Jr.
Senior United States District Judge
TEL: 904-549-1930
 Biography |
| Interest List |
| Chambers Staff |
| Case & Trial Management Preferences |
Biography:
Judge Adams was appointed a United States District Judge for the Middle District of Florida in December 1993. He received his B.S. in 1966 from Florida A & M University and his J.D. from Howard University College of Law in 1969. He was awarded a Reginald Heber Smith Fellowship in April 1969 and after completing a Consumer Rights and Poverty Law training program at Haverford College, Ardmore, Pennsylvania, was assigned to the Duval County Legal Aid Association (n/k/a Jacksonville Area Legal Aid Association, Inc). In November 1970, he was appointed Assistant Public Defender of the Fourth Judicial Circuit and remained in that position until January, 1972, when he joined the law firm of Sheppard, Fletcher, Hand & Adams. In 1976, he joined the law firm of Marshall and Adams where he maintained a general practice of law. In October 1979, he was appointed Circuit Judge in and for the Fourth Judicial Circuit (Clay, Duval and Nassau Counties), where he served until his appointment to the federal bench. Judge Adams currently serves as a Board Member of Communities in Schools of Jacksonville, Inc., and the Jacksonville Public Education Fund.
Interests List: Back to top
The hyperlink below is a list of investments, of which the judge is aware, owned by family members or by him, which are subject to reporting on his annual Financial Disclosure Report, or which could constitute a financial interest that might necessitate recusal. This information is provided so that participants in this case will be able to advise the Court if there is any actual or apparent conflict of interest in the assignment of a case to this Judge. This information is not to be used for any other purpose. Attention is directed to the Ethics Reform Act of 1989, published in Title 5 of the United States Code Annotated, Appendix 4, Sections 101-112, for information concerning the procedure for obtaining copies of the Financial Disclosure Report.
Chambers Staff: Back to top
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Mary Oliver |
Paula Goins |
Case & Trial Management Preferences: Back to top
- Case Management Report - Provided in WordPerfect® format.
- Exhibit List and Tags
- Standing Order - Trial Procedures
CIVIL
Motion Practice
•Judge Adams does not regularly provide oral argument on dispositive motions.
•Judge Adams does not allow telephonic hearings.
Settlement
Judge Adams generally requires the use of alternative dispute resolution devices such as court-annexed, non-binding arbitration and mediation. Judge Adams does not conduct settlement conferences. Parties shall notify the court immediately upon settlement of cases. Any case scheduled for trial will remain on the trial docket until an order of dismissal is entered.
Pretrial Conferences
Judge Adams personally conducts pretrial conferences. There is no standing order regarding pretrial conference. Orders are entered following the pretrial conference.
Jury Trials
•All cases set for trial during a monthly trial term will be listed on a trial calendar and distributed to all counsel and pro se parties the preceding month. The cases are not necessarily tried in the order they appear on the calendar. Judge Adams does not conduct a calendar call. Counsel/pro se parties will be notified by the courtroom deputy when a case has been called up for trial. Counsel should be prepared to proceed with 48-hour notice. However, all efforts are made to provide as much notice as possible. Specific trial dates certain are not regularly granted unless there are exceptional circumstances. If a case is not reached during the scheduled trial term, the trial date will be automatically rescheduled on the next trial docket.
•Proposed jury instructions, verdict forms and voir dire should be filed by the deadline set forth in an order entered following the pretrial conference, that deadline is generally 15 days before the trial term. A courtesy copy should be sent to chambers. The jury instructions and verdict should also be provided to the court on a disk in WordPerfect format.
•Judge Adams personally conducts voir dire.
•Each side is limited to a total of three preemptory challenges. In multiple party cases, each side shares the preemptory challenges.
•Counsel are generally limited to 30 minutes for opening statement. Exhibits may be used in opening statements, with prior approval. Plaintiffs are not allowed to make a rebuttal during opening statements.
•Daubert hearings are conducted prior to trial, where appropriate.
•Exhibit lists and Witness lists (an original and three copies) shall be filed with the Courtroom Deputy prior to jury selection. All questions regarding the marking of exhibits should be directed to the courtroom deputy.
Bench Trials
•Trial briefs are required in bench trials. The briefs have a ten-page limitation. The deadline for filing briefs is set forth in the order entered following the pretrial conference.
•Proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law are generally required within 15-20 days after conclusion of bench trials, and should be submitted to chambers on a disk in WordPerfect format.
CRIMINAL
Status Conference
Judge Adams personally conducts status conferences. The Defendant is not required to be present.
Change of Plea
Judge Adams usually refers changes of plea to the assigned magistrate judge. If a case has been called up for trial, the change of plea must be held before jury selection.
Sentencing
Counsel should notify the courtroom deputy if a scheduled sentencing is anticipated to last longer than 30 minutes. Judge Adams does not allow the submission of sentencing memoranda.
Discovery
Discovery issues are generally referred to the assigned magistrate judge.
Guide to Judicial Practices in Florida's Federal Courts
