The Hon. Kellie M. Charles is a judge for the 2nd Judicial District Court of Minnesota. She was appointed to the bench by Governor Tim Walz on August 10, 2020, filling a vacancy created by the retirement of the Hon. Jennifer Frisch.
Over the course of her judicial career, Charles has held assignments on the Domestic and Sexual Violence Judicial Leadership Team, the Court Operations Advisory Workgroup, the Ramsey County Court Corrections Committee, and the Ramsey County Court Equal Justice Committee.
Charles earned a bachelor’s degree in political science, English, and journalism from Miami University. She then completed a J.D. at William Mitchell College of Law in 1997.
After graduating from law school, Charles began her legal career with the Hennepin County Public Defender’s Office. During her tenure there, she rose through the ranks, eventually becoming a senior attorney in 2014. In that capacity, she was tasked with supervising the Probation Violation Team, the Treatment Court Team, and the Appeals & Special Litigation Team.
Her memberships have included the Minnesota State Bar Association, the Ramsey County Bar Association, the Minnesota Women Lawyers Association, and the Minnesota District Judges Association. She has also been involved with the Education Committee of the Minnesota Supreme Court Historical Society, Local 2938 of the American Federation of State County, and Municipal Employees, and StanDown for Minnesota Veterans.
She has served as a faculty member at the Expert Witness Training Academy and the National Institute for Trial Advocacy. She also taught legal practicum, appellate advocacy, advocacy and advanced trial advocacy courses at Mitchell Hamline School of Law.
A resident of St. Paul, Minnesota, for over twenty-eight years, Charles has served on the Greater Eastside Community Council, the Dayton’s Bluff Community Council, and the Macalester Groveland Community Council.