Before becoming a judge, Justice Kelly was a successful commercial litigation partner with the law firm Dickinson Wright, which she joined in 1987. She earned her undergraduate degree at the University of Michigan at Dearborn and her law degree from the University of Notre Dame Law School.

Mary Beth Kelly - Michigan Supreme Court Historical Society

Mary Beth Kelly earned an undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan-Dearborn and a law degree from the University of Notre Dame Law School.

Mary Beth Kelly

Mary earned an undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan-Dearborn and a law degree from the University of Notre Dame Law School.

Justice Kelly serves as an advisor to Vista Maria and to the University of Michigan’s Detroit Center for Family Advocacy. She is an adjunct law professor at the University of Detroit- Mercy Law School.

Kelly retired from the Supreme Court on October 1, 2015, in order to join Bodman PLC in Detroit as a partner and vice chair.

Before becoming a judge, Justice Kelly was a successful commercial litigation partner with the law firm Dickinson Wright, which she joined in 1987.

Kelly has been a judge since 2004 and has served as chief judge of the family division of the Wayne County Circuit Court. She has also worked as a prosecutor and in private practice.

Judge Mary Beth Kelly, family law expert, appointed to Michigan Supreme Court - MLive

Mary Beth Kelly is an adjunct law professor at the University of Detroit Mercy Law School. She worked as a partner and vice chair at Bodman PLC in Detroit and previously was a commercial litigation partner at Dickinson Wright. She has also worked as a prosecutor and in private practice.

Judge Mary Beth Kelly: Family law bench stint aids high court bid

Mary is an adjunct law professor at the University of Detroit Mercy Law School. She worked as a partner and vice chair at Bodman PLC in Detroit and previously was a commercial litigation partner at Dickinson Wright. She has also worked as a prosecutor and in private practice.

She was elected to the 3rd Circuit on November 3, 2020.

Justice Mary Beth Kelly was elected to an eight-year term on the Michigan Supreme Court in November 2010; she retired from the Court on October 1, 2015, to re-join the private sector as an attorney with Bodman PLC.

She served on the Wayne County Circuit Court for 11 years, having been appointed by Governor John Engler in 1999; she was elected to the court in 2000 and re-elected in 2002 and 2008.

Mary Beth was elected to the 3rd Circuit in 2020. She was elected to an eight-year term on the Michigan Supreme Court in 2010 and retired from the court in 2015. She previously served on the Wayne County Circuit Court for 11 years, after being appointed in 1999, and was elected in 2000 and reelected in 2002 and 2008.

2026 Michigan General Election

Nonpartisan

Justice Mary Beth Kelly was elected to an eight-year term on the Michigan Supreme Court in November 2010; she retired from the Court on October 1, 2015, to re-join the private sector as an attorney with Bodman PLC. She served on the Wayne County Circuit Court for 11 years, having been appointed by Governor John Engler in 1999; she was elected to the court in 2000 and re-elected in 2002 and 2008.

Justice Kelly serves as an advisor to Vista Maria and to the University of Michigan’s Detroit Center for Family Advocacy. She is an adjunct law professor at the University of Detroit- Mercy Law School. Before becoming a judge, Justice Kelly was a successful commercial litigation partner with the law firm Dickinson Wright, which she joined in 1987. She earned her undergraduate degree at the University of Michigan at Dearborn and her law degree from the University of Notre Dame Law School. Kelly retired from the Supreme Court on October 1, 2015, in order to join Bodman PLC in Detroit as a partner and vice chair. She was elected to the 3rd Circuit on November 3, 2020.

Kelly retired from the Supreme Court on October 1, 2015, in order to join Bodman PLC in Detroit as a partner and vice chair. She was elected to the 3rd Circuit on November 3, 2020.

Worked as a commercial litigation partner at Dickinson Wright beginning in 1987.

Worked as a prosecutor and in private practice.

Served on the Wayne County Circuit Court for 11 years after a 1999 appointment and elections in 2000, 2002, and 2008.

Served an eight-year term on the Michigan Supreme Court after election in November 2010.

Joined Bodman PLC in Detroit as a partner and vice chair after retiring from the Michigan Supreme Court in 2015.

Was elected to the 3rd Circuit on November 3, 2020.

- Worked as a commercial litigation partner at Dickinson Wright beginning in 1987.
- Worked as a prosecutor and in private practice.
- Served on the Wayne County Circuit Court for 11 years after a 1999 appointment and elections in 2000, 2002, and 2008.
- Served an eight-year term on the Michigan Supreme Court after election in November 2010.
- Joined Bodman PLC in Detroit as a partner and vice chair after retiring from the Michigan Supreme Court in 2015.
- Was elected to the 3rd Circuit on November 3, 2020.

Legal Experience

In 2002, the Michigan Supreme Court appointed Kelly the chief judge of the Wayne Circuit Court, making her the first woman to lead that bench. She served as chief judge through 2007, focusing on budget deficit reduction, timely dockets, jail overcrowding, and the court’s Family Division.

Under her leadership, the Family Division doubled in size to devote more judicial resources to cases concerning children and families. She also led efforts to improve the racial diversity of the Wayne County jury system, working with the National Center for State Courts to gather data and recommend county-wide solutions.

Under her leadership, the Family Division doubled in size to devote more judicial resources to cases concerning children and families. She also led efforts to improve the racial diversity of the Wayne County jury system, working with the National Center for State Courts to gather data and recommend county-wide solutions. Her leadership on this issue has been recognized by The Detroit News.

As chief judge, focused on reducing the budget deficit, moving cases forward promptly, addressing jail overcrowding, and supporting the court’s Family Division.

As chief judge, expanded the Family Division to devote more judicial resources to children and family cases.

As chief judge, led efforts to improve racial diversity in the Wayne County jury system through data collection and countywide recommendations.

- As chief judge, focused on reducing the budget deficit, moving cases forward promptly, addressing jail overcrowding, and supporting the court’s Family Division.
- As chief judge, expanded the Family Division to devote more judicial resources to children and family cases.
- As chief judge, led efforts to improve racial diversity in the Wayne County jury system through data collection and countywide recommendations.

Judicial Administration

As of September 14, 2026, Mary Beth Kelly did not have a website or any information online.

Judicial Philosophy

Ethics & Conduct

Justice Kelly has received numerous honors for her judicial leadership, including the Arab American Anti-Discrimination Council’s Distinguished Leadership Award. For her work on children’s issues, she was named Vista Maria’s Child Advocate of the Year and was also recognized by the Ennis Center for Children as Advocate of the Year. Justice Kelly serves as an advisor to Vista Maria and to the University of Michigan’s Detroit Center for Family Advocacy. She is an adjunct law professor at the University of Detroit- Mercy Law School.

Serves as an advisor to the University of Michigan’s Detroit Center for Family Advocacy.

- Serves as an advisor to Vista Maria.
- Serves as an advisor to the University of Michigan’s Detroit Center for Family Advocacy.

Community Involvement

LinkedIn

As of September 14, 2026, Mary Beth Kelly’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Mary Beth Kelly | Michigan Supreme Court Historical Society

Mary Beth Kelly earned an undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan at Dearborn and a law degree from the University of Notre Dame Law School.

Mary Beth Kelly joined Bodman PLC in Detroit as a partner and vice chair. She was previously a commercial litigation partner with Dickinson Wright.

Served from 2011 through 2015

Justice Mary Beth Kelly was elected to an eight-year term on the Michigan Supreme Court in November 2010; she retired from the Court on October 1, 2015, to re-join the private sector as an attorney with Bodman PLC.

Mary Beth was elected to the 3rd Circuit in 2020. She previously served on the Michigan Supreme Court from 2011 through 2015 after being elected in 2010. Before that, she served on the Wayne County Circuit Court for 11 years; she was appointed in 1999 and elected in 2000, then re-elected in 2002 and 2008.

Served on the Wayne County Circuit Court for 11 years after appointment in 1999.

Served as a justice on the Michigan Supreme Court from 2011 through 2015.

Served as a commercial litigation partner at Dickinson Wright after joining the law firm in 1987.

As chief judge, focused on reducing budget deficits, timely dockets, jail overcrowding, and the Family Division.

As chief judge, expanded the Family Division to devote more judicial resources to cases involving children and families.

Led efforts to improve racial diversity in the Wayne County jury system through data collection and countywide recommendations.

Mary Beth Kelly – Michigan Supreme Court Historical Society

Justice Kelly has received numerous honors for her judicial leadership, including the Arab American Anti-Discrimination Council’s Distinguished Leadership Award. For her work on children’s issues, she was named Vista Maria’s Child Advocate of the Year and was also recognized by the Ennis Center for Children as Advocate of the Year. Justice Kelly serves as an advisor to Vista Maria and to the University of Michigan’s Detroit Center for Family Advocacy.

Mary Beth Kelly earned an undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan-Dearborn and a law degree from the University of Notre Dame Law School. She serves as an advisor to Vista Maria and the University of Michigan's Detroit Center for Family Advocacy.

As chief judge, focused on issues involving budget deficits, timely dockets, jail overcrowding, and the Family Division.

As chief judge, led efforts to improve racial diversity in the Wayne County jury system through data gathering and recommendations across the county.

Mary Beth joined Bodman PLC in Detroit as a partner and vice chair. She previously worked as a commercial litigation partner with Dickinson Wright.

Mary Beth was elected to the 3rd Circuit on November 3, 2020. She previously served on the Michigan Supreme Court after being elected to an eight-year term in 2010, retiring in 2015. Before that, she served on the Wayne County Circuit Court for 11 years; she was appointed in 1999 and elected in 2000, then reelected in 2002 and 2008.

Served as a Wayne County Circuit Court judge for 11 years.

Served as a Michigan Supreme Court justice from 2011 through 2015.

Worked as a commercial litigation partner at Dickinson Wright.

Joined Bodman PLC in Detroit as a partner and vice chair in 2015.

Advocates for passage of the Youth in Prison package as part of juvenile-justice policy.

Expanded the Family Division to devote more judicial resources to cases involving children and families.

Led efforts to improve racial diversity in the Wayne County jury system through data collection and county-wide recommendations.

Said traditional judicial tools and established standards should guide judicial philosophy rather than adopting new rules lightly.

Serves at Vista Maria, a foster-care and at-risk-youth organization, and plans to represent individual young people in individual cases.

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- A circuit court judge is an elected judicial official who serves in Michigan’s circuit court system, the state’s trial court of general jurisdiction.
- Circuit courts handle major legal matters, including felony criminal cases, large civil lawsuits, family law matters, juvenile cases, and appeals from lower courts and some administrative agencies.
- Michigan circuit court judges are elected in nonpartisan elections and may also be appointed to fill vacancies.
- Judges serve six-year terms and may run for reelection.
- Candidates must be licensed attorneys authorized to practice law in Michigan, admitted to practice for at least five years, qualified electors within the judicial circuit, and under 70 years old at the time of election or appointment.
- The salary of a Michigan circuit court judge is approximately $183,000 per year.

A judge who handles major criminal, civil, and family court cases.