Comment #: CA46511
Rating:10.0
Comments:
"If these walls could talk" takes on a whole new meaning in Judge Kelly's Courtroom and moreso in Chambers. Its tough to ignore when "the writing is quite literally on the wall".

In Judge Kelly's courtroom, it says, "Abbey Road", "Jefferson Starship" and a particularly nice "Commodores" album cover. What this says about a person is that, as one reviewer below so eloquently stated, Judge Kelly is Courageous. Classic Album covers are not the only artwork adorning his courtroom, however as they are interspersed with an equal amount of professional Sports posters, some of which are extremely rare such as the Mike Schmidt poster in his chambers... its almost priceless. The look Michael Jordan gives Kobe Bryant in another prominently featured poster I would say IS priceless.

The underlying take away from this, in my opinion is Judge Kelly's Spirit Of Diversity. Not just diversity in the aspect of various types of music being presented or that almost every major league team has some place on his wall, but it also represents impartiality.

When you take into consideration the diversity of music genres, the impartiality evidenced by the multitude of teams and the inclusion of all... displaying his Museum Quality collection prominently on the walls of his Courtroom... it should be instantly understood that this was done, by design.

Forgetting for a moment then I have never heard an attorney complaining about in hearing in this courtroom, one should really take comfort in his approachability, reasonableness, scholarship, and willingness to employ an open mind and an open heart as I've seen him do many times with people who may be there because they haven't been able to make ends meet recently. Judge Kelly is never one to impugn a litigant for lack of finances, intellect, or understanding. I would go so far as to call him sympathetic and would put him up there with the very best personalities a Judge could have.

In one instance, the prosecutor was adamant about the application of a certain jury instruction, that were it to be recognized, and interpreted the way the prosecutor wanted, it would have been disastrous for almost any defendant facing a domestic violence charge. However intense the prosecutor may have been, Judge Kelly understood that the application of that jury instruction would have been misguided. However in all fairness he gave the prosecutor the opportunity to brief the instruction and rather than shoot the other side down so to speak he was open-minded and demonstrated humility in giving the benefit of the doubt to a prosecutor who had researched that particular instruction prior to including it in a motion in limine. he would have done the same were the where the tables turned and it was a defense attorney requesting it and in my opinion demonstrated real impartiality.

If you ever have an opportunity to be in his courtroom for whatever reason take advantage of it and you may want to bring binoculars because he somehow manages to get those albums and poster covers hung a full 30 ft off the ground!?

Comment #: CA8856
Rating:8.9
Comments:
A bit egomaniacal with his temperament, but a genuinely thoughtful man. Slightly less pro-prosecution during trial than most judges in the county, but about as tough at sentencing. Huge caveat: he is independent-minded and courageous enough that he will make tough, unpopular decisions if he is genuinely convinced it is the just thing to do; I have seen him do it several times.

Comment #: CA6925
Rating:9.4
Comments:
Very fair, very human. Judge Kelly doesn't treat the defendants like bad people while their cases are in his courtroom, he is so respectful to everyone. He really listens to what everyone is saying and weighs it. He is not an ego-ridden man, and I recall once he challenged a young defendant to a basketball session to show him how marijuana slowed him down. An excellent bench officer by all accounts.