Chari Kelly

Chari Kelly lives in Austin, Texas. Kelly served in the United States Army from 2003 to 2007. She reached the rank of captain in the Judge Advocate General’s Corps at Fort Hood. She earned a high school diploma from Spruce Creek High School. She earned a B.A. in political science and criminology from the University of Florida in 1999 and a J.D. from the University of Texas at Austin in 2002. Kelly’s career experience includes working as an assistant district attorney for both Comal and Travis Counties, an adjunct professor with the University of Texas School of Law, and a research attorney and law clerk at the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals. In 2018, Kelly was named the prosecutor of the year in Travis County by Mothers Against Drunk Driving.[1][2][3][4]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am Justice Chari Kelly, and I am running for the Texas Supreme Court, Place 2. I currently serve on the Texas Third Court of Appeals, where I have served since 2019 and authored more than 800 opinions. Before joining the bench, I served Texans and our country as a U.S. Army JAG Captain, Texas Assistant Attorney General, and Assistant District Attorney. I am also a mother, veteran, teacher, mentor, and longtime member of the Texas legal community. I am running because Texans deserve a Supreme Court with judges who have real courtroom experience, appellate experience, independence, balance, and respect for the Constitution.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Experience matters. I am in my eighth year on the Third Court of Appeals and have authored more than 800 opinions. Before joining the bench, I served as a U.S. Army JAG Captain and paratrooper, represented soldiers as trial defense counsel, served as a Texas Assistant Attorney General, and prosecuted serious felony cases in Comal and Travis Counties. I am board certified in Judicial Administration and Criminal Law, and I have taught trial advocacy at the University of Texas School of Law for nearly 20 years.Independence matters. On the Third Court of Appeals, I ruled that the Texas Attorney General was not above the law in a whistleblower case and that the governor does not possess absolute authority under the Texas Disaster Act. Those decisions reflect a basic principle: the law applies to everyone, including those in power. I will bring that same independence, discipline, and respect for the Constitution to the Texas Supreme Court.Public confidence matters. Texans deserve a Supreme Court that reflects the people it serves, applies the law consistently, and puts justice over politics. Earlier this year, in the State Bar of Texas judicial preference poll, I received the highest vote total of any candidate for statewide judicial office across all ten contested races. I have also received every nonpartisan lawyer-group endorsement I am aware of, including the Houston Lawyers Association, Mexican American Bar Association of Houston, Hispanic Bar Association of Austin, and Austin Black Lawyers Association.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

As a judicial candidate, I cannot make pledges or promises about how I would rule in any case or category of cases. I am personally passionate about fair courts, judicial independence, access to justice, civil legal aid, equal treatment under the law, and public confidence in the judiciary. I have written about the importance of pro bono legal services, taught future lawyers for nearly 20 years, served as Austin Bar president, and mentored young attorneys. Courts must be understandable, accessible, and worthy of trust.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

My campaign has been endorsed by EMILY’s List, Texas AFL-CIO, Houston LGBTQ+ Political Caucus, Austin Black Democrats, Austin Young Democrats, Stonewall Democrats of San Antonio, University Democrats (UT)Houston Lawyers Association, Mexican American Bar Association of Houston, Hispanic Bar Association of Austin, and Austin Black Lawyers Association. I also received the highest vote total of any candidate for statewide judicial office across all ten contested races in the State Bar of Texas judicial preference poll.

Chari Kelly did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2024 Candidate Connection survey.

.survey-result {padding:10px;}

p.survey-question {font-weight:bold;}

p.survey-response {margin-left:10px;}

p.survey-response {white-space: pre-line;}

div.survey-scrollbox { height:400px; overflow:scroll; margin:20px; padding:10px; border:1px solid gray; }

What would be your top three priorities, if elected?

My highest priority as a justice will be the fair and impartial consideration of cases without regard to color, creed, sexual orientation, or religion. I will use my diverse background as a prosecutor, former criminal defense attorney, and veteran to make sure the unique perspectives of each litigant is considered. I will handle every appeal fully, fairly, and timely based on the law and not political pressures. I will work to improve pro bono programs, as everyone should have access to justice.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I am especially passionate about mental health care and criminal justice. Currently, Texas is ranked in the bottom half of states as in mental health care. In my job as an Assistant District Attorney, I see the intersection between mental health and criminal justice every single day. To better our criminal justice system, we need to better our mental health system in Texas.

Is there a particular judge, past or present, whom you admire?

Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Have you ever been rated by a Bar Association? If so, what was the rating?

In the statewide Texas Bar Judicial Poll, I was selected as the preferred candidate for the Third Court, Place 3 by nearly 60% of attorneys.

Why are you running for this particular court seat?

I have experience in civil and criminal law including appellate law. I am now an Assistant District Attorney for Travis County and have argued my own appeals before the 3rd and 13th Courts. The Third Court handles appeals of both civil and criminal matters-roughly a 50-50 split-yet the justices have little background in criminal law. I am board-certified in criminal law in Texas, as well as with the National Board of Trial Advocacy (and serve on its board of directors), and I am running to add much needed depth to the court.