Kelley R. Southerland

Kelley R. Southerland was appointed to the Seventeenth Judicial District Court in January 2023. She had served as a magistrate in the 17th Judicial District since 2017. On the bench she has done rotations in juvenile and domestic relations.

Before joining the judicial branch she practiced law for 15 years in the juvenile and domestic relations courts. She is a graduate of Wesleyan College in Macon, Georgia, the University of Denver Sturm College of Law and the Iliff School of Theology.

The Seventeenth Judicial District Commission on Judicial Performance voted 8 to 0 that she meets performance standards, with two commissioners absent. The commission writes: "Survey responses were overwhelmingly positive, though of the nearly three thousand survey invites that were sent out, only fourteen responded."

It describes Judge Southerland as "respected for her integrity, fairness, and calm judicial temperament, consistently treating litigants, attorneys, and court staff with patience, respect, and dignity." It finds that "Her written work reflects careful legal analysis and a commitment to legally correct outcomes, even in difficult or emotionally charged cases." It reports that "The only negative responses were about the timeliness of orders, an area where Judge Southerland strives to improve, but also is exceptionally challenging for the entire bench due to a lack of judicial resources." The commission calls her "an outstanding jurist whose leadership, work ethic, and devotion to the rule of law make her an exceptional asset to both the court and the community."