Judge
Civil/Probate/Appellate
San Luis Obispo County Superior Court
Paso Robles Branch
Department/Division:
P2
Days:
M-F
901 Park St
Paso Robles , CA 93446
Appointed San Luis Obispo Superior Court judge by Gov. Gavin Newsom, July 28, 2023; appointed Los Angeles Superior Court judge by Gov. Jerry Brown, 2018-2023; partner, Sidley Austin LLP, 1987-2018; partner, associate, Kadison Pfaelzer Woodward Quinn & Rossi, 1979-1987
Yale Law School, 1979
Judicial Profiles
| Title | Court | Published |
|---|---|---|
| Judge Michael Kelley brings big law experience to Central Coast bench | San Luis Obispo Superior Court | Jun. 8, 2026 |
| The Reader | Los Angeles County (Lancaster) | Jun. 12, 2020 |
Columns
| Title | Category | Published |
|---|---|---|
| Does the future of judging look like Billings Learned Hand or Learned Hand-AI? | Letters | Apr. 20, 2026 |
| The umpires strike back: Can jurors revive respect for the rule of law? | Law Practice, Judges and Judiciary | May 1, 2025 |
| In search of the 'better (not bitter) angels of our nature' | Constitutional Law, Civil Rights | Feb. 12, 2025 |
| Why we write | Technology, Judges and Judiciary | Apr. 24, 2023 |
| Supreme Court to hear constitutional challenge to the Indian Child Welfare Act | U.S. Supreme Court, Native Americans | Nov. 9, 2022 |
| A closer perspective on juvenile dependency | Law Practice, Appellate Practice | May 4, 2022 |
| Walking with the Wind | Law Practice, Civil Rights, Books | Aug. 6, 2020 |
Verdicts & Settlements
| Case Name | Topic | Role | Published |
|---|---|---|---|
| Antonio Diaz, individually and on behalf of other persons similarly situated and similarly aggrieved employees v. Paris Valley Vineyard Services Company, and Does 1 through 10 | Employment Law | judge | Jun. 5, 2026 |
| John Meyer Jr. v. County of Los Angeles, et al. | Personal Injury | judge | May 10, 2024 |
| Randi Wilson v. County of Los Angeles | Personal Injury | judge | Mar. 8, 2024 |
| Kyle Pippins and Jamie Schindler, individually and on behalf of all others similarly situated v. KPMG LLP | Employment Law | Defendant | Apr. 27, 2013 |
| In re New Century | Securities | Defendant | Dec. 4, 2010 |
| DirecTV Inc. v. Pegasus Satellite Television Inc., Golden Sky Systems Inc. | Contracts | Defendant | May 24, 2005 |
| Title | Court | Published |
|---|---|---|
| Judge Michael Kelley brings big law experience to Central Coast bench | San Luis Obispo Superior Court | Jun. 8, 2026 |
| The Reader | Los Angeles County (Lancaster) | Jun. 12, 2020 |
| Title | Category | Published |
|---|---|---|
| Does the future of judging look like Billings Learned Hand or Learned Hand-AI? | Letters | Apr. 20, 2026 |
| The umpires strike back: Can jurors revive respect for the rule of law? | Law Practice, Judges and Judiciary | May 1, 2025 |
| In search of the 'better (not bitter) angels of our nature' | Constitutional Law, Civil Rights | Feb. 12, 2025 |
| Why we write | Technology, Judges and Judiciary | Apr. 24, 2023 |
| Supreme Court to hear constitutional challenge to the Indian Child Welfare Act | U.S. Supreme Court, Native Americans | Nov. 9, 2022 |
| A closer perspective on juvenile dependency | Law Practice, Appellate Practice | May 4, 2022 |
| Walking with the Wind | Law Practice, Civil Rights, Books | Aug. 6, 2020 |
| Case Name | Topic | Role | Published |
|---|---|---|---|
| Antonio Diaz, individually and on behalf of other persons similarly situated and similarly aggrieved employees v. Paris Valley Vineyard Services Company, and Does 1 through 10 | Employment Law | judge | Jun. 5, 2026 |
| John Meyer Jr. v. County of Los Angeles, et al. | Personal Injury | judge | May 10, 2024 |
| Randi Wilson v. County of Los Angeles | Personal Injury | judge | Mar. 8, 2024 |
| Kyle Pippins and Jamie Schindler, individually and on behalf of all others similarly situated v. KPMG LLP | Employment Law | Defendant | Apr. 27, 2013 |
| In re New Century | Securities | Defendant | Dec. 4, 2010 |
| DirecTV Inc. v. Pegasus Satellite Television Inc., Golden Sky Systems Inc. | Contracts | Defendant | May 24, 2005 |