Meet US Army Veteran Justice Chari Kelly
Our experienced judge
Since being elected to the Texas 3rd Court of Appeals in 2018, Justice Kelly has been a committed defender of the Constitution—ensuring fair trials and upholding justice. She has ruled on a diverse range of cases, including those related to COVID-19, environmental concerns, and criminal justice reform, among others.
Justice Kelly has earned a reputation for her impartial and just rulings and for fearlessly applying the rule of law. She serves as a driving force for positive change and has paved the way for more Democratic women to rise to positions of leadership, both in the judiciary and in the communities served by the 3rd Court.
Meet US Army Veteran Justice Chari Kelly
Our experienced judge
Since being elected to the Texas 3rd Court of Appeals in 2018, Justice Kelly has been a committed defender of the Constitution—ensuring fair trials and upholding justice. She has ruled on a diverse range of cases, including those related to COVID-19, environmental concerns, and criminal justice reform, among others.
Justice Kelly has earned a reputation for her impartial and just rulings and for fearlessly applying the rule of law. She serves as a driving force for positive change and has paved the way for more Democratic women to rise to positions of leadership, both in the judiciary and in the communities served by the 3rd Court.
A US Army Veteran and Lifelong Public Servant
Chari served in the United States Army as a Captain in the Judge Advocate General’s Corps (JAG). She was certified to defend soldiers accused of capital crimes and was a paratrooper. She later worked on behalf of the State of Texas suing pharmaceutical companies that had defrauded the Medicaid program, recovering millions of dollars on behalf of taxpayers, all the while teaching trial advocacy at the University of Texas School of Law.
A US Army Veteran and Lifelong Public Servant
Chari served in the United States Army as a Captain in the Judge Advocate General’s Corps (JAG). She was certified to defend soldiers accused of capital crimes and was a paratrooper. She later worked on behalf of the State of Texas suing pharmaceutical companies that had defrauded the Medicaid program, recovering millions of dollars on behalf of taxpayers, all the while teaching trial advocacy at the University of Texas School of Law.
A Trailblazer and Mentor in Our Community
Chari is the current President of the Austin Bar Association and a former president of the Austin Young Lawyers Association. She was named the 2023 Mentor of the Year at both the local and state level for her mentorship of young lawyers trying to find their way in the legal profession. And she was named a 2022 Travis County Women Lawyers’ Association Trailblazer for the work she has done throughout her career to advance opportunities for women in the legal profession.
She created and supported fundraisers for unhoused and low-income women in need of legal, social, and medical services. Chari is a longtime member of the Robert W. Calvert American Inn of Court, which provides training and mentoring to attorneys of all ages. She has served more than a decade as an adjunct professor at the University of Texas School of Law.
Chari is married to Adam Schramek, a local lawyer and board member at ZACH Theatre. They recently celebrated the arrival of their precious daughter, baby Chari Adora, and are proud to call Austin their forever home.
A Trailblazer and Mentor in Our Community
Chari is the current President of the Austin Bar Association and a former president of the Austin Young Lawyers Association. She was named the 2023 Mentor of the Year at both the local and state level for her mentorship of young lawyers trying to find their way in the legal profession. And she was named a 2022 Travis County Women Lawyers’ Association Trailblazer for the work she has done throughout her career to advance opportunities for women in the legal profession.
She created and supported fundraisers for unhoused and low-income women in need of legal, social, and medical services. Chari is a longtime member of the Robert W. Calvert American Inn of Court, which provides training and mentoring to attorneys of all ages. She has served more than a decade as an adjunct professor at the University of Texas School of Law.
Chari is married to Adam Schramek, a local lawyer and board member at ZACH Theatre. They recently celebrated the arrival of their precious daughter, baby Chari Adora, and are proud to call Austin their forever home.