Joe Kelly (attorney)

Joseph Patrick Kelly (born March 17, 1956) is an American attorney and politician who is the 42nd lieutenant governor of Nebraska, since 2023. He served as the United States attorney for the District of Nebraska from 2018 to 2021. He formally serves as chief of the criminal division for the attorney general of Nebraska.

For other people named Joseph Kelly, see Joseph Kelly (disambiguation).
Joe Kelly
42nd Lieutenant Governor of Nebraska
Assumed office
January 5, 2023
GovernorJim Pillen
Preceded byMike Foley
United States Attorney for the District of Nebraska
In office
February 23, 2018 – February 28, 2021
PresidentDonald Trump
Joe Biden
Preceded byDeborah R. Gilg
Succeeded byJan Sharp (acting)
Personal details
Born
Joseph Patrick Kelly

(1956-03-17) March 17, 1956
Lexington, Nebraska, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
EducationUniversity of Nebraska (BA, JD)

Early life and education

Kelly earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from University of Nebraska in 1978 and a Juris Doctor from the University of Nebraska College of Law in 1981.[1]

Career

Kelly began his legal career in the Lancaster County Attorney's office from 1981 to 1985. He then served as an associate with Berniger, Berg and Diverin Colorado Springs, Colorado, from 1987 to 1990.[1][2] He later returned to the Lancaster County Attorney's office as the deputy Lancaster County attorney. He was elected Lancaster County Attorney in 2010 and again in 2014. He has prosecuted a variety of crimes including homicide, robbery, sexual assault, and white collar.

In 2018, he was appointed to be the U.S. Attorney for Nebraska by President Donald Trump. On February 15, 2018, his nomination to be a U.S. attorney was confirmed by voice vote in the U.S. Senate. He was sworn in on February 23, 2018. On February 8, 2021, he along with 55 other Trump-era attorneys were asked to resign.[3] He resigned on February 28, 2021.[4]

Following his time at a U.S. attorney, he served as Criminal Bureau Chief for the Nebraska Attorney General until Nebraska gubernatorial candidate Jim Pillen announced Kelly as his running mate in 2022.[5] He was sworn in as Lieutenant Governor of the State of Nebraska on January 5, 2023.

References
  1. "President Donald J. Trump Announces Ninth Wave of United States Attorney Nominations and Third Wave of United States Marshal Nominations". whitehouse.gov. November 17, 2017. Retrieved 17 December 2017 – via National Archives.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  2. Johnson, Riley; Walton, Don (November 17, 2017). "White House taps Joe Kelly as U.S. attorney for Nebraska". Lincoln Journal Star. Retrieved 17 December 2017.
  3. Balsamo, Michael (February 9, 2021). "Justice Dept. seeks resignations of Trump-era US attorneys". The Washington Post. Retrieved February 11, 2021.
  4. "U.S. Attorney for Nebraska Joe Kelly resigns". www.1011now.com. February 10, 2021. Retrieved March 1, 2021.
  5. "Nebraska gubernatorial candidate Jim Pillen announces running mate." www.1011now.com. April 5, 2022. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
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