Patricia J. Kelly

Patricia J. Kelly received her J.D. from the University of Florida College of Law and her B.A. degree in political science from the University of South Florida. In 2001, Governor Jeb Bush appointed Judge Kelly to the Second District Court of Appeal. Before being appointed to the court, Judge Kelly practiced law with firms in West Palm Beach and Tampa before leaving private practice to serve as a staff attorney to the Honorable James E. Lehan at the Second District Court of Appeal. After returning to private practice, Judge Kelly limited her practice to appellate matters and in 1998, she obtained board certification in appellate law from The Florida Bar. Judge Kelly has served on various committees including the Appellate Court Rules, the Pro Se Appellate Handbook, CLE, and Publications Committees of the Appellate Practice and Advocacy Section of The Florida Bar, and the steering committee for the 2007 Florida Appellate Justice Conference. She also served as a member of the Innocence Commission and is a member of the Bruce R. Jacob Inn of Court, the J. Clifford Cheatwood Inn of Court, and is a former member of the C. H. Ferguson M. E. White Inn of Court.