After gaining admission to the bar, Adams "moved to Ft. Pierce to practice law".

[2] In 1936, he campaigned for the election of Fred P. Cone as Governor of Florida, "and was rewarded for his support by an appointment to the circuit bench in 1938 and to the supreme court in 1940".

[2] Adams served on the court until 1951, when he resigned to undertake an unsuccessful campaign for governor.

[3] In 1967, Governor Claude R. Kirk appointed Adams as an interim justice to fill a vacancy created by the resignation of Stephen C. O'Connell.

Adams served until Hopping met the eligibility requirements in late 1968.