Profile of Charles F. Adams

Charles F. Adams was appointed Associate Justice of the California Court of Appeal, Sixth Appellate District, by Governor Gavin Newsom in June 2026 and took office following his confirmation on August 6, 2026.

Justice Adams joined the Court of Appeal after eight years on the Santa Clara County Superior Court. During his time on the trial bench, he presided over matters in nearly every division of the court, including the Criminal, Civil, Family, Probate, and Appellate Divisions. From 2021 to 2023, he was the Supervising Judge of the Family Division. During that same period, he also served as a member of the Judicial Council's Family and Juvenile Law Advisory Committee.

Justice Adams's contributions to the legal community have been recognized by local bar organizations. In 2025, he received the John D. Foley Judge of the Year Award from the Santa Clara County Trial Lawyers Association. In 2022, the Family Law Section of the Santa Clara County Bar Association honored him with the Henry P. Collada Memorial Award.

Before taking the bench, Justice Adams gained experience in both federal and state courts and in private practice. He was as a Staff Attorney for the Santa Clara County Superior Court and later served as the Administrative Law Clerk to United States District Judge Edward J. Davila of the Northern District of California. Earlier in his legal career, he practiced family law in Southern California following his admission to the California State Bar.

Born and raised in Antioch, California, Justice Adams earned a Bachelor of Arts in American Studies and Spanish from the University of California, Davis, in 2000. He received his law degree from Pepperdine University School of Law in 2003.