Justice Kelley received his undergraduate degree from Ithaca College in 1984 and his law degree from George Mason University School of Law in 1987 (Law Review). From 1993 until 2002, he served as Town Justice in Livonia, New York. After his 2013 election as Judge of the Civil Court, New York County, he was appointed by Chief Administrative Judge A. Gail Prudenti to the Bronx Family Court, serving there from 2014 to 2016. In 2016, Chief Administrative Judge Lawrence K. Marks appointed him to the Kings County Civil Court, and then to New York County Civil Court in 2017. In 2018, Justice Kelley was appointed to the Supreme Court, New York County, as an Acting Supreme Court Justice.
Prior to becoming a Judge, Justice Kelley, was at Jones, Skivington and Kelley from 1988 – 2002, served as Livingston County Public Defender from 1992 – 1993, and was Attorney of Record at the New York Liquidation Bureau from 2007- 2010. From 2002 – 2007, and 2010 – 2013, he was Assistant Attorney General in the Claims Bureau of the Attorney General’s Office. He also served on the Fourth Department’s Attorney Grievance Committee from 1995 – 2001.