Alumni Spotlight: Kimberly Esmond Adams ’99
Chief Senior Assistant District Attorney, Fulton County District Attorney’s Office (Atlanta)
Kimberly Esmond Adams knew since she was eight years old that she wanted to be a judge. She was just a little confused about how to get there. “My mom tried explaining to me that I’d have to go to law school and become a lawyer first. I kept insisting, ‘no mama, I’m just going straight to judge school.’ By the time I was ten, it finally clicked.”
Every step of the way since then it seems, Adams has done what it takes to reach her ultimate professional aspiration. She excelled in high school, attended prestigious Howard University in Washington, D.C., and applied to 21 different law schools—a list that initially did not include Notre Dame Law School. “I received materials in the mail about Notre Dame. It wasn’t until then that I considered the possibility because I am not Catholic and I don’t like cold weather,” explains Adams. “What struck me, however, was Notre Dame’s focus on leadership—just like at Howard—and the opportunity to study law in a community of faith.”
The rest is history.
“I am currently running for a seat on the Fulton County Superior Court in Atlanta,” says Adams, who keeps a grueling campaign schedule. “I always start my day with prayer…I like to cover my bases,” she adds with a smile. After that, it’s a morning full of phone calls and fundraising, followed by an afternoon of community meetings and events to listen to constituents and get her message out to voters.
Adams has worked as a criminal prosecutor in the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office for nearly six years. She prosecutes homicide cases and crimes committed against women and children, such as rape and molestation. “It’s very important work,” says Adams. “I believe that as a judge, I would have a greater ability to make a difference, serve the cause of justice and promote the common good. That’s why I’m running.”
For those considering law school, no matter what career path they choose, Adams has this to say: “A Notre Dame education opens doors. There are very few places you can go where people do not know Notre Dame’s stellar reputation and legacy. A Notre Dame law degree on your resume causes people to take notice.”
