--- title: "Chari L. Kelly | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/chari-l-kelly-tx-3rd-court-appeals" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-08-02" --- # Chari L. Kelly Texas 3rd Court of Appeals · Court of Appeals Justice ## Profile - Court: Texas 3rd Court of Appeals - State: Texas - Role: Court of Appeals Justice - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-07-27 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Biography ### Professional career - U.S. Army veteran, former prosecutor, and appellate judge serving on the Texas Third Court of Appeals since January 1, 2019, and is currently running for a seat on the Texas Supreme Court in the 2026 special general election - Justice, Texas Court of Appeals, 3rd District (Austin), Austin, TX, 2019-2024 - Assistant District Attorney, Austin, TX, 2015-2018 - Assistant District Attorney, Comal County Criminal District Attorney, New Braunfels, TX, 2013-2015 - Assistant Attorney General, Office of the Attorney General of Texas, TX, 2008-2013 - Research Attorney, Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, Austin, TX, 2007-2008 - Was Research Attorney for Judge Paul Womack at the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals - held the role of a Captain in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps (JAG), a paratrooper, and defense attorney for soldiers facing capital crimes - Kelly has been an adjunct professor at UT Austin School of Law for nearly 20 years ### Education - JD — The University of Texas at Austin — 2002 - Political Science and Criminology, magna cum laude — University of Florida — 1999 ### Additional information - Lead Instructor for the Fall Litigation Institute, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 2007-2018 - Defense Cousel, US Army Trial Defense Service, Fort Hood and Fort Sam Houston, TX, 2003-2007 - Military Law, Honor Graduate — U.S. Army Judge Advocate General's Legal Center and School (JAG School) — 2003 - Known for her impartial rulings on a wide range of cases, including COVID-19, environmental issues, and criminal justice reform - She is double Board Certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in Judicial Administration and Criminal Law, and a Judicial Fellow in Criminal Law by the National Board of Trial Advocacy - She also serves on the Texas Law Alumni Association Executive Committee - She is a past president of the Austin Bar Association and Austin Young Lawyers Association, and has been recognized as Mentor of the Year at both local and state levels. ## Before you appear - Read the judge-specific standing order first when one is listed. - Check the docket and case orders for requirements that supersede broader guidance. - Confirm current remote-access and courtroom technology arrangements before the proceeding. ## Courtroom Rules ### appellate electronic filing Scope: statewide In Texas appellate courts, attorneys must electronically file civil and criminal documents, subject to a good-cause motion; self-represented parties may e-file but are not required to do so. Evidence excerpt: Attorneys in civil cases must electronically file documents. Attorneys in criminal cases must electronically file documents except for good cause shown in a motion filed in the appellate court. [Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure, Rule 9.2, Electronic Filing](https://www.txcourts.gov/media/1461885/texas-rules-of-appellate-procedure.pdf) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ## Sources - [Official profile](https://www.txcourts.gov/3rdcoa/about-the-court/justices/justice-chari-l-kelly/) - [Official roster](https://www.txcourts.gov/3rdcoa/about-the-court/justices/justice-chari-l-kelly/) - [Texas Judicial Branch official judicial roster](https://www.txcourts.gov/3rdcoa/about-the-court/justices/justice-chari-l-kelly/) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/15462/chari-l-kelly/) - [Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure, Rule 9.2, Electronic Filing](https://www.txcourts.gov/media/1461885/texas-rules-of-appellate-procedure.pdf) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/15462/chari-l-kelly/) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/chari-l-kelly-tx-3rd-court-appeals", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/chari-l-kelly-tx-3rd-court-appeals", "name": "Chari L. 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