Michelle Meier Keller
Kentucky Supreme Court
Justice Michelle M. Keller was elected to an eight-year term as the Supreme Court justice for Northern Kentucky’s 6th Appellate District in November 2014. She had been serving in the role since April 2013, when Gov. Steve Beshear appointed her to fill a vacancy.
She is also chairwoman of the court system’s Technology Governance Committee, a post she has held since January 2011 by appointment of Chief Justice of Kentucky John D. Minton Jr.
Justice Keller was in her seventh year as a Court of Appeals judge when she was appointed as a Supreme Court justice. From January 2007 through February 2012, she served as the Court of Appeals representative on the Judicial Conduct Commission, a post to which her fellow Court of Appeals judges elected her.
Prior to her election to the Court of Appeals, Justice Keller practiced law for 17 years. She has experience as an assistant county attorney and in criminal defense. Her civil practice concentrated in the areas of family law, personal injury and medical-negligence defense. Her clients have included physicians, psychologists and hospitals, and she has extensive trial experience. She has also practiced administrative law, having represented numerous clients before state regulatory and licensure boards. She is chairwoman emeritus of the Kentucky Personnel Board and has served as a hearing officer and member of that board. Justice Keller is licensed to practice law in Kentucky, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky and the United States Supreme Court. She has twice been commended by the Kentucky House of Representatives for her service to the commonwealth.
Justice Keller attended Northern Kentucky University’s Salmon P. Chase College of Law while working as a licensed registered nurse in critical care. She earned her juris doctor from Chase in 1990. As a student at the college, she was an IOLTA scholar.
- Kentucky
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- Justice
- Kentucky Supreme Court
- - Current
- Chairwoman of the court system’s Technology Governance Committee.
- Judge
- Court of appeals
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- Attorney
- Law Practice
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- Experience as an assistant county attorney and in criminal defense. Civil practice concentrated in the areas of family law, personal injury and medical-negligence defense. Clients have included physicians, psychologists and hospitals, and she has extensive trial experience. Practiced administrative law, having represented numerous clients before state regulatory and licensure boards.
- Salmon P. Chase College of Law, Northern Kentucky University
- J.D. (1990) | Law
- Honors: IOLTA scholar
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- Richard D. Lawrence Lifetime Achievement Award
- Northern Kentucky Bar Association
- Chase Exceptional Service Award
- Northern Kentucky University’s Salmon P. Chase College of Law
- Donated Legal Services Award
- Kansas Bar Association
- Chase Excellence Award
- Northern Kentucky University’s Salmon P. Chase College of Law
- Kentucky State Bar
- Member
- Current
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- Kentucky Personnel Board
- Chairwoman Emeritus
- Current
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- Salmon P. Chase Inn of Court
- Master
- Current
- Activities: Served as president of the Inn from 2012-2013.
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- KBA’s CLE Commission
- Supreme Court representative
- Current
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- Ethics and Professional Responsibility Judges Advisory Committee for the American Bar Association
- Member
- Current
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- ABA and the Kentucky Bar Foundation
- Fellow
- Current
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