News Item
Michael J. Kelley appointed new Fifth Judicial District Administrator
Posted: Friday, September 4, 2015
On behalf of the judges in Minnesota’s Fifth Judicial District, Chief Judge Bradley C. Walker has appointed Michael J. Kelley as district administrator of Minnesota’s Fifth Judicial District. The Minnesota Judicial Council approved the appointment on August 20, 2015, and the appointment is effective October 1, 2015.
“The Fifth Judicial District is extremely fortunate to welcome Mike Kelley as the District Administrator,” said Chief Judge Walker. “He has the skills and experience to guide us in the coming years as we enter into an electronic-based system. In these times of careful utilization of all judicial resources, his vision is to be fiscally responsible, while at the same time enhance the access to the courts by all citizens and attorneys. He already has a close relationship with and the respect of State Court Administration staff. He is anxious to begin his new role within the Judicial Branch and we are excited to welcome him.”
Kelley currently serves as Deputy District Administrator for the Fourth Judicial District (Hennepin County), a position he has held since June 2003. He is a native of the Fifth Judicial District, growing up and attending school in Fairmont (Martin County). He began his career in Minnesota’s court system in 1992 as Assistant District Administrator for the Seventh Judicial District. In 1995, he took the same position in the First Judicial District. Kelley moved to the Fourth District as Administrative Services Manager in 1998. He left the Fourth District in early 2003 and joined State Court Administration as Finance Director. He returned to the Fourth District later that year.
Prior to joining the Minnesota Judicial Branch, Kelley was employed by the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts as an Arbitration Program Field Coordinator and Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, as deputy court administrator.
Kelley has a Master of Science in Judicial Administration from Denver University College of Law, as well as a Bachelor of Science in Political Science and Criminal Justice from the University of South Dakota. He was also named a Certified Court Manager by the National Center for State Courts.
While serving as Deputy District Administrator for the Fourth Judicial District, Kelley has been primarily responsible for overseeing district court infrastructure and professional services, including budget and finance, security, space and facilities, human resources and employee development, information technology, psychological services, and self-represented litigant services. He has also represented the District in policy discussions with other branches of government.
As District Administrator, Kelley will oversee the administrative affairs of the Fifth District, including management and processing of all court records and files, budgeting and accounting, human resources, and maintenance of the district’s information technology infrastructure.
Kelley will replace Richard H. Fasnacht, who has announced his retirement from the Minnesota Judicial Branch after 40 years of service, including 29 years as the District Administrator for the Fifth Judicial District. Fasnacht was greatly involved with implementing state funding of the Minnesota court system from 1989 to 2000. Between 2006 and 2014 he played a role in securing grants and state funding that helped establish drug courts in all 15 counties in the Fifth District.