Baker Donelson Shareholder Ty Kelly has become a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, one of the premier legal associations in North America. Ms. Kelly became a Fellow before an audience of 570 during the recent Induction Ceremony at the 2019 Spring Meeting of the College in La Quinta, California. The meeting had a total attendance of 750.
Founded in 1950, the College is composed of the best of the trial bar from the United States and Canada. Fellowship in the College is extended by invitation only, and only after careful investigation, to those experienced trial lawyers of diverse backgrounds, who have mastered the art of advocacy and whose professional careers have been marked by the highest standards of ethical conduct, professionalism, civility and collegiality. Lawyers must have a minimum of 15 years' trial experience before they can be considered for Fellowship. The College maintains and seeks to improve the standards of trial practice, professionalism, ethics, and the administration of justice through education and public statements on independence of the judiciary, trial by jury, respect for the rule of law, access to justice, and fair and just representation of all parties to legal proceedings. The College is thus able to speak with a balanced voice on important issues affecting the legal profession and the administration of justice.
"I am both honored and humbled to be invited to join the American College of Trial Lawyers," Ms. Kelly stated. "The ACTL is not only comprised of some of the finest legal minds and trial lawyers in the country, but meaningfully contributes to the advancement of the administration of justice and equal access to justice for all. I am truly inspired after spending the weekend with these esteemed Fellows and look forward to joining them in their work advancing these legal values that are so fundamental to our justice system."
Ms. Kelly, a shareholder in Baker Donelson's Washington, D.C. and Baltimore offices, has extensive trial experience, trying numerous cases to verdict as both a federal prosecutor and in private practice. Ms. Kelly's love of trial work was formed early in her career as a Trial Attorney in the Department of Justice's Criminal Division, Fraud Section, after being admitted into the prestigious Attorney General Honors Program. As a Fraud Section Trial Attorney, she also served as a Special Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Columbia, trying cases in the District of Columbia Superior Court. After serving as a Trial Attorney, Ms. Kelly served for seven years as an Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Maryland, where she tried numerous jury trials in a wide variety of substantive legal areas, including violent crime, white collar crime and public corruption. As an Assistant United States Attorney, Ms. Kelly also argued several matters at the Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. In private practice, she has defended individuals at trial, some resulting in acquittals for her clients. Ms. Kelly has been recognized as a leading attorney in her field by Maryland Super Lawyers, Best Lawyers in America, and Chambers USA.