John Adams: poet, judge, teacher, musician

John Adams is a poet and writer, and a former Family Court judge of 20 years. His first book of poetry, Briefcase, won the Jessie MacKay Prize for Best First Poetry book in 2012. His second book of poems, Rumplstiltskin Blues, has just been published, covering joy and sorrow, family and friendship, touching on his judicial career, and a nod to politics. When not writing creatively, John Adams is working on a PhD in English Literature at Auckland University, working as an arbitrator and mediator, teaching lawyers and judges, and writing lyrics for his band, named Don't Judge Me.