Kevin P. Kelly at a glance
- Current role
- Judge
- Jurisdiction
- Washington · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Kevin P. Kelly
Judge · Kitsap County - District Court
Biography
Professional career
- Current role: Judge, Kitsap County District Court, Department 4
Education
- Cleveland–Marshall College of Law — J.D. (1988)
- Bachelor’s degree from Kent State University (1984)
Additional information
- Appointment: Appointed by Governor Phil Murphy on March 18, 2024.
- Kevin P. Kelly was appointed to the Kitsap County District Court in Washington by the Kitsap County Board of County Commissioners on July 1, 2017, filling a vacancy created by the retirement of the Hon. Stephen Holman.
- Career before judgeship: 27 years as a Deputy Prosecutor with the Kitsap County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, serving in Family Support, Civil, Juvenile, and Criminal divisions.
- He was promoted to supervisor of the Felony Drug Unit and Administration Unit, and later Chief of the District and Municipal Court Division.
- Notable work: Instrumental in creating the first Veterans Treatment Court and the Behavioral Health Court in Washington.
- Community service: 20-year active member and past president of the Rotary Club of South Kitsap; former Kitsap Humane Society Executive Board member; past Kitsap County Youth Court mentor.
- Native of Washington, raised in Ohio; married to Wendy; father of three daughters.
Applicable Court Rules & Procedures
Recording and broadcasting
Statewide
Washington GR 16 allows video recording, audio recording, and still photography by the news media in courtrooms only after the judge has expressly granted permission.
Video and audio recording and still photography by the news media are allowed in the courtroom during and between sessions, provided (1) that permission shall have first been expressly granted by the judgeWashington GR 16, Courtroom Photography and Recording by the News Media ↗
Statewide
If a Washington judge limits courtroom photography or recording, GR 16 requires particularized findings on the record and treats open access as presumed.
Open access is presumed; limitations on access must be supported by reasons found by the judge to be sufficiently compelling to outweigh that presumptionWashington GR 16, Courtroom Photography and Recording by the News Media ↗
Published courtroom rules
Shared court rules
Washington GR 16, Courtroom Photography and Recording by the News Media
Kitsap County - District Court
Scope is limited to the court class in the source claim. Shared court context only; case-type restrictions, exceptions, later amendments and case orders apply. This is not a personal preference or a complete rules inventory.
Official source ↗ · Collected 2026-07-26Sources
Identity source checked July 26, 2026.
Biography sources checked October 11, 2026.
Washington State Administrative Office of the Courts official judicial roster
Identity source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Washington State Administrative Office of the Courts official judicial roster ↗Washington GR 16, Courtroom Photography and Recording by the News Media
Statewide source · PDF · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Washington GR 16, Courtroom Photography and Recording by the News Media ↗