Jennifer S. Kelley

Jennifer Kelley is a veteran trial attorney whose career is defined by a fierce commitment to the disenfranchised and the community’s most vulnerable members. Originally from New York and raised in Miami, Florida, Jennifer spent a decade litigating high-stakes criminal cases in one of the nation’s most rigorous legal environments. During her tenure in Florida, she was a pivotal figure in systemic reform, serving on the Miami-Dade County Mayor’s Mental Health Task Force and as a founding member of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit Criminal Mental Health Project. This groundbreaking initiative has since become a national gold standard for the decriminalization of mental illness, reflecting Jennifer’s lifelong dedication to shifting the legal landscape toward dignity and rehabilitation.

Since relocating to the Appleton area nearly 15 years ago, Jennifer has brought that same "fierce advocacy" and expert litigation skill to the Wisconsin bar. Her exceptional work in handling the justice system’s most complex and emotionally charged matters was recognized by her peers when she received the prestigious Kuchler-Nicholson-Stilling Sensitive Crimes Award from the Wisconsin Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (WACDL). This honor underscores her unique ability to navigate the most sensitive legal challenges with professional excellence and courage. Whether defending clients in high-stakes felony trials or navigating intricate litigation matters, Jennifer ensures that every individual she represents is treated with the "patient grace" and rigorous defense they deserve.

Beyond the courtroom, Jennifer is a recognized leader in the field of treatment courts and mental health advocacy. She has been an integral member of the Outagamie County Mental Health Treatment Court since 2021 and recently concluded a significant term on the Board of Directors for the Wisconsin Association of Treatment Court Professionals (2023–2026). Currently serving on the Board of Directors for NAMI Wisconsin, Jennifer has spent over a decade presenting at conferences and agencies across the state on the essential intersection of mental health and the law. Her deep expertise and passionate advocacy continue to shape a more compassionate and effective criminal justice system for all residents of the Fox Valley and beyond.

Prior to law school, she earned a degree in sociology from the University of San Francisco, followed by studies in the Master of Social Work program in Miami, where she started working with the Miami-Dade Public Defender’s Office as a Forensic Social Worker. She continued this focused work in mitigating for waiver of the death penalty in capital criminal cases while she was in law school. She graduated cum laude from St. Thomas University, Miami, Florida in 2004, where she also served as an articles editor for Law Review and served as a judicial intern for the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida.

When not in the courtroom, Jennifer can be found relaxing on the shores of the Wolf River or with her family, including her two dogs, Scout & Daisy.