Kalispell prosecutor moves up to judge position

After a nearly 10-year career with the Flathead County Attorney’s Office, Deputy County Attorney Lori Adams is ready to start a new chapter in her judicial career — as judge in Kalispell Municipal Court.

Adams, 46, was the only person to apply for the seat being vacated by Judge Heidi Ulbricht, who was recently elected to replace departing Flathead District Judge Stewart Stadler in January.

“When I heard that Heidi was running for District Court, it entered my mind that that might be something that I might want to do,” Adams said. “I investigated it a little bit after the primary, and when I saw the numbers it looked like it was a pretty good shot that the position was going to be open.”

She then went to Ulbricht and talked about the job to make sure she knew exactly what she was getting into. After that conversation, Adams was convinced and put in her application.

After being appointed to the position by the Kalispell City Council, Adams will complete one year on the bench before having to run for re-election, which she has confirmed that she will do.

“That’s the scary part,” she said. “This time next year I could be possibly unemployed. So it’s a daunting thing. I’m hoping that no one will run against me, but if somebody does I’m planning on running.”

BORN AND raised in a suburb outside of Philadelphia, Adams went on to graduate from West Chester University in Pennsylvania in May 1988 with a major in criminal justice and a minor in psychology. She earned her law degree from the Widener University School of Law in Wilmington, Del.

“I went to law school at night and I worked as a probation officer full time,” Adams said. “And then after I graduated from law school I worked at the Chester County District Attorney’s Office. I was an assistant district attorney, and then I was part of their child abuse unit prosecuting cases there.”

Adams also handled sex offense cases in youth court. By the time she left, she was a senior trial attorney.

Adams’ husband was hired by Plum Creek in 2002, leading to her own application to the Flathead County Attorney’s Office. She was successful in her bid and began her career in the valley in February 2003.

“I started out as part time because I had to take the bar exam here, so I was just doing reports and charging and stuff like that,” Adams said.

After passing the exam, Adams handled all types of cases, from Flathead District Court through Flathead Justice Court. All the attorneys in the office shared the caseload across both courts at the time.

Responsibilities for the different courts were split up roughly two years into Adams’ time there and she became a felony attorney. Her previous experience working child abuse and other youth court cases in Pennsylvania led to her becoming part of a multidisciplinary team handling child abuse cases.

Eventually she was given the responsibility for handling youth court cases.

“Then, in 2010, I was promoted to be the lead deputy county attorney and took over a supervisory role,” Adams said.

She has continued to handle child abuse, sexual assault, youth court and felony cases while leading the other deputy county attorneys.

ADAMS SAID she is looking forward to being on the other side of the bench where she can listen to instead of try cases, have the ability to decide motions and have the ability to run trials.

Among departing Judge Ulbricht’s accomplishments while serving as Kalispell municipal court judge was the establishment of a DUI court, a practice Adams plans to continue. Adams herself pleaded guilty to a DUI charge in 2005.

She said she completed all of the court’s requirements as well as taking responsibility within the county attorney’s office and accepting sanctions imposed by Flathead County Attorney Ed Corrigan.

“It did not change the way I prosecute DUIs,” Adams said. “If I believe the person is guilty of the offense I believe they should be convicted and complete all of the court’s requirements.

“Likewise, it will not impact the way I will handle them as a judge. As a judge, I will follow the law and, if a person is found guilty, mete out a sentence that the law requires.”

Adams said she will miss working with the people in the county courts.

“I think there’s a great bunch of people in this office, a great bunch of people in the Justice Center in total,” Adams said.

“It’s my understanding that the city staff is a little smaller but I’ve heard the city staff is also excellent.”

She also said she will miss prosecuting child abuse cases.

“I won’t be able to do that anymore, but I’m leaving them in the more than capable hands of Mr. [Travis] Ahner.”

Ahner is one of Adams’ fellow deputy county attorneys.

Adams said she plans to remain Kalispell’s municipal court judge “as long as the people will have me.” She was sworn in on Dec. 17 and begins her new judicial duties on Jan. 2.

Reporter Jesse Davis may be reached at 758-4441 or by email at jdavis@dailyinterlake.com.