Judge John J. Kelley: Professional Background and Legal Expertise

The Hon. John J. Kelley is an Acting Justice of the New York County Supreme Court, Civil Term in the First Judicial District of New York. He was designated to the Supreme Court bench in 2018 by the Hon. Lawrence K. Marks, Chief Administrative Judge of the State of New York. Prior to the appointment, Justice Kelley had served as an elected judge for the New York County Civil Court since 2014.

During his tenure on the Civil Court, Justice Kelley was designated to serve as a judge for the Bronx County Family Court (2014 to 2016) and a judge for the Kings County Civil Court (2016 to 2017). At the time of his elevation to the Supreme Court, Justice Kelley had returned to his post on the New York County Civil Court.

He is a registered Democrat.

Justice Kelley graduated with his B.A. in history and writing from Ithaca College in 1984. He went on to earn a J.D. from George Mason University, Antonin Scalia Law School in 1987.

Shortly after graduating from law school, Kelley entered into private practice. He practiced as a partner at Jones, Skivington, and Kelley beginning in 1988. His areas of practice included civil and criminal matters involving felony and misdemeanor trials, personal injury litigation, and Family Court litigation.

While continuing in his law practice, Kelley joined the Livingston County Public Defender’s Office in 1992. During his brief tenure there, he worked as a first assistant public defender before being promoted to the public defender for Livingston County.

Upon his departure from the Public Defender’s Office in 1993, Kelley began serving as the town justice for the Livonia Town Court in Livingston County. He would continue to serve on the Town Court bench until 2002.

It was at that time, Kelley left both his private practice as well as his Town Court post to join the New York State Office of the Attorney General. He began his tenure there as an assistant attorney general assigned to its Claims Bureau.

After serving in that capacity for five years, Kelley left the Attorney General’s Office in 2007 to work as the attorney of record with the New York Liquidation Bureau, a quasi State agency tasked with liquidating insolvent insurance companies.

Three years later, he returned to his position with the Attorney General’s Office, continuing his work in the Claims Bureau, while also serving as the Intern Coordinator for the Bureau. His work there involved defending State hospitals and health care providers against medical malpractice lawsuits. Kelley was serving in those capacities at the time of his election to the bench.

He also served as an appointed member of the Attorney Grievance Committee for the Seventh Judicial District for six years.

His other memberships include the New York County Lawyers Association, where he has served as co-chair of its Civil Court Practice Section and was a past president of the Livingston County Bar Association.