Frederick Matson Kelley at a glance
- Current role
- Per Diem Judge
- Jurisdiction
- Hawaii · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Frederick Matson Kelley
Per Diem Judge · Hawaii District and District Family Courts, Second Circuit
Biography
Professional career
- Matson Kelley is a senior attorney at Kelley & Wilkins
Education
- Santa Clara University — B.S.
Additional information
- In 2024, he argued before the Hawaii Supreme Court in HELG, et al. v.
- It details his 2024 Hawaii Supreme Court argument in HELG v.
- Matson Kelley has been a trial attorney and litigator for over 20 years, with more than 10,000 hours in the courtroom.
- Maui-based attorney and per diem judge in Hawaii’s Second Judicial Circuit, presiding over District and Family Court cases
- Current per diem judge serving in the District and/or District Family courts in Hawaii's Second Circuit.
- He graduated magna cum laude from University of Hawaii William S. Richardson School of Law
- He has handled cases in every court in Hawaii, including the Circuit Court, District Court, Honolulu Federal Court, and the Hawaii Supreme Court.
- The Hawaii Judiciary lists Frederick Matson Kelley as one of the per diem judges for the Second Circuit (Maui), meaning he presides over cases in District and/or District Family Courts on a part-time basis
- His firm biography explicitly states that he serves as a per diem judge in Family and District Court.
- He earlier held the role of a Honolulu deputy prosecuting attorney.
- His experience includes legal services for Santa Clara Superior Court, pro bono work for Legal Aid Society of Hawaii, a Honolulu summer associateship, and a federal externship with Magistrate Judge Leslie Kobayashi.
- Before private practice, Kelley held the role of Deputy Prosecuting Attorney in Honolulu and has provided legal services for the Santa Clara Superior Court and the Legal Aid Society of Hawaii.
- He is a graduate of the William S. Richardson School of Law (Magna Cum Laude) and Santa Clara University, and has received multiple awards, including the Palaka Award from the Rotary Club of Maui
- While in Santa Clara business school he entered its law school Early Start Program before transferring to University of Hawaii.
- His firm reports Lawyer of Distinction recognition and the Rotary Club of Maui Palaka Award.
- Department of Health involving a child’s loss-of-parental-consortium claim.
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Statewide
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Camera Microphone Placement
Statewide
Hawaii leaves courtroom camera and microphone placement to the judge and cautions that judges may differ on placement rules.
The judge will decide where cameras and microphones can be placed in the courtroom. Judges differ on this - so please ask.Cameras and Audio Equipment ↗
Sources
Identity source checked August 9, 2026.
Biography sources checked August 9, 2026.
Hawaii State Judiciary official judicial roster
Identity source · HTML · Source checked August 9, 2026
View Hawaii State Judiciary official judicial roster ↗Cameras and Audio Equipment
Statewide source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Cameras and Audio Equipment ↗Remote Court Hearings via Zoom
Statewide source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Remote Court Hearings via Zoom ↗Hawaii State Judiciary judicial profile or roster
Identity source · HTML · Source checked August 9, 2026
View Hawaii State Judiciary judicial profile or roster ↗www.kelleyandwilkins.com
Biography source · HTML · Source checked October 5, 2026
View www.kelleyandwilkins.com ↗