Kentucky: Court of Justice - Judge Michelle M. Keller

Michelle M. Keller was elected to the Kentucky Court of Appeals in November 2006 to serve as judge for Division 1 of the 6th Appellate District. Additionally, she was elected by her peers to serve as the Court of Appeals representative on the Judicial Conduct Commission.

Prior to her election, Judge Keller enjoyed a varied legal practice. Her experience includes serving as both an assistant county prosecutor and criminal defense attorney. Judge Keller’s practice also concentrated in the areas of family law, personal injury and medical negligence defense. She also is experienced in administrative law, representing numerous clients before state regulatory and licensure boards, and has served as a member of, and hearing officer for, the Kentucky Personnel Board. Judge Keller is a Chairwoman Emeritus of that board. She is licensed to practice law in Kentucky, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky and the United States Supreme Court.

Additionally, Judge Keller has been an adjunct professor at Xavier University for the past six years. She teaches medical/legal research, writing and forensics.

Judge Keller has been a licensed registered nurse in Kentucky since 1982, and while working as an RN in critical care, she received her J.D. from Northern Kentucky University Salmon P. Chase College Law in 1990. In 2007, she received the Chase Excellence Award.

Judge Keller has served the Northern Kentucky Bar Association as chairwoman of the Women Lawyer's Section. She represented the 16th Judicial Circuit on the Kentucky Bar Association's former House of Delegates. Judge Keller recently received the KBA Service Award for her work involving pro se litigants.