Mary Beth Kelly
Nonpartisan · MI · Judge, Family-Domestic Division, Wayne County Third Circuit Court
Mary Beth Kelly is a Family-Domestic Division judge of Michigan's Third Judicial Circuit Court in Wayne County. She previously served on the court from 1999 through 2010 and was its first woman chief judge from 2002 through 2007. Kelly served as a Michigan Supreme Court justice from 2011 through September 2015, then returned to private practice at Bodman PLC before returning to the Third Circuit bench. Earlier, she was a commercial-litigation attorney and partner at Dickinson Wright. Kelly earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Michigan-Dearborn and a law degree from Notre Dame Law School.
Track record
Civil Rights
· 1 record
During her earlier Third Circuit chief-judge tenure, Mary Beth Kelly implemented a law-firm model for appointed counsel in juvenile cases, established the Friend of the Court Call Center, and partnered with the National Center for State Courts on jury-pool racial diversity.
March 28, 2017For
Source: 3rdcc.org · researched July 13, 2026
General
· 1 record
Mary Beth Kelly presented the Third Circuit Court's role, work, and jury-service information to Grosse Ile Township through the court's 10 Minutes to Justice community-outreach program.
March 12, 2026
Source: 3rdcc.org · researched July 13, 2026
Integrity and Ethics
· 1 record
The Wayne County Commission adopted a resolution opposing Chief Judge Mary Beth Kelly's proposed centralized assignment of counsel for indigent defendants and urging her to keep the existing assignment system.
May 20, 2004
Source: waynecountymi.gov · researched July 13, 2026
Legal Competence
· 6 records
As a private arbitrator, Mary Beth Kelly issued a final award in favor of AM General affiliate Humvee Export on all claims in a commercial dispute over vehicle-assembly agreements.
December 21, 2020For
Source: govinfo.gov · researched July 13, 2026
Mary Beth Kelly was elected to the Michigan Supreme Court Historical Society's board of directors while practicing at Bodman PLC.
June 13, 2016For
Source: milawyersweekly.com · researched July 13, 2026
Mary Beth Kelly authored the lead opinion in Stand Up for Democracy v. Secretary of State, requiring actual compliance with referendum-petition type requirements while directing certification of the petition.
August 3, 2012For
Source: law.justia.com · researched July 13, 2026
Mary Beth Kelly authored People v. Likine, holding that inability to pay alone is not a defense to felony nonsupport while recognizing the common-law defense of impossibility in exceptional circumstances.
July 31, 2012For
Source: law.justia.com · researched July 13, 2026
Mary Beth Kelly authored the unanimous People v. Kolanek opinion interpreting Michigan's medical-marijuana affirmative defense, including when a physician's statement must precede an alleged offense.
May 31, 2012For
Source: law.justia.com · researched July 13, 2026
Mary Beth Kelly entered a stipulated binding-arbitration order in Miller v. Miller; the Michigan Supreme Court later reinstated the resulting Wayne Circuit Court divorce judgment and arbitration award.
December 28, 2005For
Source: law.justia.com · researched July 13, 2026
Elections
- 3rd Circuit Judge of Circuit Court - Incumbent - 6 Year Terms · November 3, 2026 · Wayne County, Michigan · incumbent
Profile last researched July 13, 2026.