About
After obtaining his license to practice law, Kelly continued his service as Assistant Prosecuting Attorney for Dent County, Missouri, and also maintained a private general law practice in Salem, Missouri. In his private practice, Kelly handled divorces, adoptions, guardianships, name changes, civil litigation, automobile accidents, personal injury cases, and a variety of other matters.
In 1994, Kelly was elected Prosecuting Attorney for Dent County, Missouri. In that capacity, he prosecuted every kind of criminal offense from very serious matters such as murder, rape, robbery, and assault to more minor matters such as speeding tickets and DWIs. Kelly continued to maintain his general private practice throughout his time as Prosecuting Attorney.
In 1996, and again in 1998, Kelly was elected to the Missouri General Assembly as State Representative for the 150th District. In that role, Kelly served as vice-chair of the Criminal Law Committee as well as the Public Safety and Law Enforcement Committee. He also served as a member of the Children, Youth, and Families Committee; Civil and Administrative Law Committee; Corrections Committee; Judiciary Committee; Appropriations Committee for Social Services and Corrections; and the Agri-business Committee. Throughout his time in the Missouri Legislature, Kelly continued to maintain his private law practice but shifted his practice to focus more on criminal defense work including, murder, assault, sexual assault, burglary, robbery, drug offenses, and DWI. In addition to criminal defense work, Kelly also expanded his civil practice in the areas of wrongful death, automobile accidents, personal injury, and other tort cases.
Kelly did not seek reelection to the Missouri General Assembly in the 2000 election and returned full-time to the private practice of law in January of 2001. However, in February of 2001, the Missouri Governor sought to appoint Kelly as Associate Circuit Judge for Iron County, Missouri, to complete the remainder of the term of the previous judge. Kelly agreed to accept the appointment and was sworn in as Associate Circuit Judge in March of 2001. In 2002 Kelly was elected to a full term as Associate Circuit Judge.
In 2006, Kelly won a special election to complete the remainder of the term of Circuit Judge, Division 2, of the 42nd Judicial Circuit. The 42nd Judicial Circuit includes Crawford, Dent, Iron, Reynolds, and Wayne counties. In 2008 and 2014, Kelly was reelected Circuit Judge.
As a Circuit Judge, Kelly presided over numerous murder jury trials, including a capital murder case where the state of Missouri sought the death penalty. In addition to many murder jury trials, Kelly presided over various other felony jury trials and many civil jury trials including wrongful death, personal injury, and medical malpractice. Kelly also presided over a multitude of bench trials including divorces (dissolution of marriage), adoptions, real estate disputes, and breach of contract.
After nearly twenty years on the bench as a judge, Kelly has now brought his experience to Parker Law LLC. Kelly’s primary focus will be on representing individuals charged with serious felony offenses such as murder, rape, robbery, or assault and those who have been injured, or whose family members have been killed, due to the negligence or recklessness of another.
Admissions Details
- 1992, Missouri
Military Service
Missouri Army National Guard
- 2014-2016 (retired November 2016)
- Highest rank: Major
- Chief of Military Justice, J.A.G. Corps., Joint Forces Headquarters, Missouri
- Responsible for Disciplinary and Administrative Actions in the Missouri Army National Guard
- Supervised and trained Trial Counsel
- 2009-2014
- Highest rank: Major
- Senior Defense Counsel, 429th Trial Defense Team (Missouri and Nebraska National Guard), J.A.G. Corps., Trial Defense Service, Joint Forces Headquarters, Missouri
- Represented Soldiers in Disciplinary and Administrative Actions
- Supervised other Defense Counsel in Missouri and Nebraska and assigned representation of cases
- 2002–2009
- Highest rank: Captain
- Trial Counsel, J.A.G. Corps, 35th Engineer Brigade, Ft. Leonard Wood, MO
- Advised Commanders on all aspects of Military Law
- Prosecuted Soldiers in Disciplinary or Administrative Actions
- Mobilized and Deployed in Support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) June 2007-June 2008
- 1985–1991
- Highest rank: Sergeant
- Served as Combat Engineer, Unit Retention Counselor, Assistant Recruiter, and Administrative Specialist
Honorable Discharge
Education
Kelly Parker attended the University of Missouri-Columbia, School of Law. After his second year of law school, he was sworn in as Assistant Prosecuting Attorney of Dent County, Missouri. Prior to beginning his final year at Mizzou, Kelly had tried two jury trials as Assistant Prosecuting Attorney and obtained convictions in each case. Throughout his final year of law school, he continued to work as an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney while keeping up with his studies. Kelly graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia, School of Law in May of 1992.
- University of Missouri-Columbia, School of Law, Class of 1992, J.D.
- Southwest Missouri State University, Class of 1988, B.S.
Teaching Experience
Southwest Baptist University, Salem, MO
Course Instructor, 1996 / 2003–2004
- Provided instruction in Criminal Justice, Crime and Criminology, and American Corrections
Professional Development
- Judicial Trial College (Yearly Course of Instruction), Office of State Court Administrator, 2001–2020
- Family Law Symposium, Office of State Courts Administrator, 2009
- Multidisciplinary Training – Child Abuse/Neglect Cases, 42nd Judicial Circuit Court, Juvenile Division
- Judge Advocate Officer Advanced Course, 2008, The Judge Advocate General’s Legal Center and School
- Operational Law, 2007, The Judge Advocate General’s Legal Center and School
- Drug Court Planning Initiative, Operational Training Program, Bureau of Justice Assistance, U.S. Department of Justice, National Drug Court Institute, 2005
- Drug Court Planning Initiative, Skills Based Training Program, Bureau of Justice Assistance, U.S. Department of Justice, National Drug Court Institute, 2005
- Comprehensive Child Welfare Conference, Office of State Courts Administrator, 2005
- Drug Court Planning Initiative, Introductory Training Program, Bureau of Justice Assistance, U.S. Department of Justice, National Drug Court Institute, 2005
- Judge Advocate Officer Basic Course, 2003, The Judge Advocate General’s Legal Center and School
- Best Practices in Child Abuse and Neglect Cases, Office of State Courts Administrator, 2002
- 43d Annual Short Course for Defense Attorneys in Criminal Cases, Northwestern University School of Law, Chicago, IL, 2000
- Excellence in Advocacy, Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys, 1999
- Persuasion in the Courtroom, Missouri Bar Association, 1998
- Criminal Practice Institute, Missouri Bar Association, 1998
- Bad Faith Litigation, National Business Institute, 1998
- Trial Practice, from start to finish, Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys, 1997
- Evidence Law: Artistry and Advocacy in the Courtroom, Missouri Bar Association, 1997
- Defending Criminal Cases, Missouri Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys, 1997
- Trial Advocacy School, Missouri Office of Prosecution Services, 1995
- Prosecution of a Capital Case, Missouri Office of Prosecution Services, 1995
- Annual Prosecutors’ Conference, Missouri Office of Prosecution Services, 1991–1995
Affiliations & Distinctions
- Missouri Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
- National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
- Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys
- Presiding Judge Executive Committee, 2015-2017
- Missouri Circuit Judges Association, 2007-2020
- 42nd Judicial Circuit Bar Association; President, 2006-2012
- Dent County Bar Association
- Associate Circuit Judges Association, 2001-2006
- Missouri Bar Association
- American Council of Young Political Leaders (ACYPL)
- Selected as a member of a nine-person delegation to Vietnam and Thailand
- Member, ACYPL Alumni Council; (previously a member)
Experience
- Circuit Court Judge
- State Representative for the 150th District of the Missouri General Assembly
- Prosecuting Attorney
- Criminal Defense
- Southwest Baptist University Course Instructor - Criminal Justice, Crime and Criminology, and American Corrections
- Major, Missouri Army National Guard
- Chief of Military Justice, J.A.G. Corps., Joint Forces Headquarters, Missouri
