William P. Kelly
How Judge Kelly decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
Procedural preferences
Kelly holds pro se litigants (including incarcerated plaintiffs) to the Federal and Local Rules. When the prisoner plaintiff filed discovery requests directly on the docket, Kelly issued a text order reminding all parties -- 'including pro se parties' -- that discovery is not filed with the court and that everyone must know and follow the rules.
“Pursuant to Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 26, 33, and 34, and Local Rule 26(f), discovery requests and discovery are not be to be filed with the Court or on the case docket. All parties, including pro se parties, are required to know and follow all Federal and Local Rules.”
He actively manages a pro se prisoner's access to the process: he reassessed and ultimately GRANTED appointment of counsel once the case survived screening and the defendants answered, and granted the plaintiff's discovery request 'as modified.' Practical read: he will give a pro se party a fair procedural footing while keeping the schedule under his own control.
“ORDER granting 19 Motion to Appoint Counsel. See Order for particulars. The Clerk's Office is directed to attempt to find counsel.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“ORDER granting 34 Motion for Summary Judgment. See Order for particulars. Signed by Magistrate Judge William P. Kelly on 1/15/2026.”
“ORDER granting 19 Motion to Appoint Counsel. See Order for particulars. The Clerk's Office is directed to attempt to find counsel. Signed by Magistrate Judge William P. Kelly on 6/3/2025.”
“ORDER granting as modified 27 Plaintiff's Request for Discovery. See Order for specific direction and deadlines. Signed by Magistrate Judge William P. Kelly on 7/3/2025.”
“ORDER denying 37 Plaintiff's Motion to Compel. See Order for Particulars. Signed by Magistrate Judge William P. Kelly on 9/16/2025.”
“ORDER denying 43 Plaintiff's Motion for Sanctions filed as Request for Default Judgment. See Order for particulars. Signed by Magistrate Judge William P. Kelly on 11/10/2025.”
“TEXT ORDER granting 20 Motion for Intervention. The Movants having now complied with Text Order 24 and Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 24(c) in 25, and Plaintiff filing no additional response, the Court grants the Motion for Intervention. Signed by Magistrate Judge William P. Kelly on 5/14/2024.”
“ORDER denying 27 Intervenors' Motion to Stay. See Order for particulars. Signed by Magistrate Judge William P. Kelly on 8/9/2024.”
“ORDER granting 15 Motion to Remand. Signed by Magistrate Judge William P. Kelly on 6/21/2024.”
“ORDER granting 18 Plaintiff's Motion for Attorney Fees. See Order for particulars. Signed by Magistrate Judge William P. Kelly on 10/4/2024.”
“IT IS ORDERED AND ADJUDGED: The final decision of the Commissioner is affirmed, and the case is dismissed. Judgment is in favor of the Defendant and against the Plaintiff.”
“JOINT PROTECTIVE ORDER. Signed by Magistrate Judge William P. Kelly on 2/12/2024.”
“TEXT ORDER granting 19 Motion for Substitution of Counsel. The Clerk's Office may terminate the appearance of Attorney Anne E. Updegraff for Defendant. The Court notes Attorney Veronica Kirk and Kerrie Murphy remain attorneys of record for Defendant. Signed by Magistrate Judge William P. Kelly on 9/25/2024.”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
Median case duration in the sampled dockets: 288 days (N = 3).
Median motion-to-ruling time: 22 days (N = 6).
Sample of dockets listing William P. Kelly as the assigned/referral judge (filed 2024-2026). His docket is dominated by criminal-duty work -- initial-appearance matters and miscellaneous criminal matters (same-day terminations) -- alongside civil referral/consent cases (prisoner civil rights, motor vehicle, personal property, healthcare contract). The nature-of-suit mix below counts only the non-duty civil matters in the sample.
Put Judge Kelly's record to work
Ezel drafts and answers grounded in this exact profile: how Judge Kelly actually rules, not a generic AI guess.
Opens in Ezel Pro. Every answer is grounded in Judge Kelly's own signed orders and cites them.