The Hon. Tim E. Kelley (Ret.) is a former judge for the 19th Judicial District Court of Louisiana. He was elected to the bench in 1996. Kelley retired on January 2, 2023.
The 19th Judicial District includes East Baton Rouge Parish. Kelley served as chief judge and senior judge of the 19th Judicial District, holding the distinction of being its longest-serving judge.
He received a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Cornell University in 1976. Kelley then obtained his professional engineering license, working as an engineer, until completing a J.D. at Louisiana State University, Paul M. Hebert Law Center, in 1983.
After graduating from law school, he began his legal career as a judicial law clerk to the Hon. Fred Blanche with the Louisiana Supreme Court before entering private practice as an associate at Phelps Dunbar, where he spent the next twelve years. Kelley was named a partner in 1988, and he handled construction, commercial, anti-trust, and general civil matters as a litigator.
In 1993, he left the firm to partner alongside David L. Guerry, at Kelley & Guerry, where he remained until his election to the bench. At the firm, Kelley transitioned into corporate law, succession and probate law, personal injury, and products liability matters. He was also a certified mediator and arbitrator for many years for the American Arbitration Association.
Kelley was appointed a commissioner on the Louisiana Supreme Court’s Judiciary Commission, serving later as chairman of the Commission, and he was also a longtime member of the Capital Area Law Enforcement Planning Commission.
He is registered as a Republican.