Judge Mary E. Kelly

Judge Mary E. Kelly was appointed to the Los Angeles County Superior Court by Governor Jerry Brown in 2016 and sits at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse. Her pre-bench career spans an unusually broad range of legal practice: she clerked twice for Hon. Arthur L. Alarcon at the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals (1981–1983 and 1993–1994), clerked for Hon. David Linn at the Illinois Appellate Court, maintained a private practice in criminal, civil, and administrative law, served as an Assistant Federal Public Defender and Supervising Trial Attorney at the Federal Public Defender's Office in Los Angeles from 1995 to 2004, and then served as an Administrative Law Judge from 2004 to 2018. She also taught Health Care Administration at California State University Long Beach. This career trajectory reflects deep exposure to federal appellate standards, criminal defense practice, and administrative adjudication. Her fourteen years as an Administrative Law Judge before joining the Superior Court bench means she brings a structured, record-focused adjudicative approach honed in formal administrative proceedings. Her federal public defender background signals familiarity with constitutional criminal procedure, evidentiary standards, and the rights of defendants. No ruling analyses or attorney observations are currently available in the dataset, so behavioral patterns specific to her Superior Court courtroom cannot be drawn from empirical data at this time. The profile data above, however, provides a reliable foundation for understanding her professional formation and the legal disciplines that have most shaped her judicial perspective.

Given Judge Kelly's extensive background as a federal public defender and supervising trial attorney, attorneys in criminal matters should expect a judge who is well-versed in constitutional protections, Fourth and Fifth Amendment doctrine, and the practical realities of criminal defense. Arguments grounded in federal constitutional standards and Ninth Circuit precedent are likely to resonate, given her two clerkships with Judge Alarcon at that court. Her fourteen years as an Administrative Law Judge signal a strong preference for procedural precision, well-organized records, and thorough evidentiary foundations. Attorneys should present arguments in a structured, methodical manner with clear citations to the record. Administrative law judges are trained to manage complex factual records and apply regulatory frameworks rigorously — bringing that same discipline to briefing and oral argument before Judge Kelly is advisable. Because no courtroom-specific behavioral data is available, attorneys should treat their first appearance as an opportunity to observe her procedural preferences directly. Arriving prepared with thorough knowledge of both the factual record and controlling legal authority — particularly Ninth Circuit and California Supreme Court precedent — reflects the standards she was trained under during her appellate clerkships.

• critical

  Master the Factual Record Before Any Hearing

  Judge Kelly's ALJ background means she is trained to scrutinize the evidentiary record closely. Every factual assertion must be supported by a specific record citation. Prepare a thorough record index and be ready to direct the court to precise locations in the record.

• critical

  Research Ninth Circuit Precedent on All Key Issues

  Given her two clerkships at the Ninth Circuit, Judge Kelly has extensive familiarity with that court's analytical frameworks. Identify and brief all controlling and persuasive Ninth Circuit authority relevant to your matter.

• important

  Prepare Structured, Methodical Oral Arguments

  Administrative adjudicators are trained to manage complex proceedings with structured frameworks. Organize oral argument with clear headings, logical sequencing, and explicit transitions between issues.

• important

  Anticipate Constitutional Criminal Procedure Issues

  In criminal matters, Judge Kelly's federal public defender background means she will be alert to Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Amendment issues. Anticipate these arguments from both sides and prepare thorough responses.

• important

  Observe Courtroom Procedures on First Appearance

  No empirical courtroom behavioral data is currently available. Use the first appearance to observe her specific procedural preferences, motion practice style, and courtroom management approach before making strategic assumptions.

• Nice

  Review Administrative Agency Decisions Carefully in Relevant Cases

  In cases touching on administrative agency actions, Judge Kelly's ALJ experience means she will evaluate the administrative record with expert-level scrutiny. Ensure the administrative record is complete and all exhaustion requirements are satisfied.

• ›Present arguments in a structured, organized format consistent with the formal procedural standards of administrative and appellate proceedings — the environments in which Judge Kelly spent the majority of her career.
• ›Cite the record precisely and specifically. Judge Kelly's ALJ background reflects training in record-based adjudication; vague or unsupported factual assertions are inconsistent with the standards she has applied throughout her career.
• ›Treat constitutional arguments seriously and with depth. Given her federal public defender background, cursory treatment of constitutional issues will not be sufficient.
• ›Be prepared for a judge who has presided over complex, multi-issue proceedings. Do not assume she will be unfamiliar with technical legal or regulatory frameworks.
• ›Arrive fully prepared on both facts and law. Her appellate clerkship background reflects exposure to the highest standards of legal analysis, and underprepared counsel will be at a disadvantage.