Chari is from Daytona Beach, Florida. She attended the University of Florida and the University of Texas at Austin. She has a bachelor’s degree in political science and criminology from the University of Florida and a law degree from the University of Texas at Austin. She lives with her husband, Adam Schramek, and their daughter, Chari Adora, in Austin.

Chari Kelly - Ballotpedia

Meet the Austin Bar's New President: Justice Chari Kelly - Issuu

Chari is a Justice on the Texas Third Court of Appeals. She works at the Third Court of Appeals. She previously worked as a defense attorney in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps at Fort Hood and Joint Base San Antonio from 2003 to 2007, where she represented soldiers facing court-martials; as a research attorney and law clerk for Judge Paul Womack on the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals; as an assistant district attorney in Comal County and Travis County, handling felony prosecutions; and as an adjunct professor at the University of Texas School of Law for almost 20 years.

Chari L. Kelly | Faculty | Texas Law

Chari is a Justice on the Texas Third Court of Appeals. She works at the Third Court of Appeals. She previously worked as a defense attorney in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps at Fort Hood and Joint Base San Antonio from 2003 to 2007, where she represented soldiers facing court-martials; as a research attorney and law clerk for Judge Paul Womack on the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals; as an assistant district attorney in Comal County and Travis County, and as an adjunct professor at the University of Texas School of Law for almost 20 years.

Chari Kelly is currently a judge for Place 3 of the Texas Third District Court of Appeals. She assumed office on January 1, 2019. Her current term ends on December 31, 2030.

As an assistant attorney general, worked on civil Medicaid fraud cases in the Texas Attorney General’s Office, focusing on pharmaceutical litigation.

Board certified as a Judicial Fellow by the National Board of Trial Advocacy in Criminal Law.

Has served as an adjunct professor and lecturer for Texas Law’s Advocacy Department for almost 20 years.

Named Prosecutor of the Year in Travis County by Mothers Against Drunk Driving in 2018.

- As an assistant attorney general, worked on civil Medicaid fraud cases in the Texas Attorney General’s Office, focusing on pharmaceutical litigation.
- Board certified as a Judicial Fellow by the National Board of Trial Advocacy in Criminal Law.
- Has served as an adjunct professor and lecturer for Texas Law’s Advocacy Department for almost 20 years.
- Named Prosecutor of the Year in Travis County by Mothers Against Drunk Driving in 2018.

Legal Experience

As of January 22, 2026, Chari Kelly’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Judicial Administration

Kelly is a "committed defender of the Constitution" who focuses on ensuring fair trials and the fearless application of the law.

- Kelly is a "committed defender of the Constitution" who focuses on ensuring fair trials and the fearless application of the law.

Judicial Philosophy

Ethics & Conduct

Said, "I will work to improve pro bono programs, as everyone should have access to justice."

She is a former President of the Austin Bar Association and the Austin Young Lawyers Association.

Named 2023 Mentor of the Year at both the local and state level for her mentorship of young.

- Said, "I will work to improve pro bono programs, as everyone should have access to justice."
- She is a former President of the Austin Bar Association and the Austin Young Lawyers Association.
- Named 2023 Mentor of the Year at both the local and state level for her mentorship of young.

Community Involvement

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Chari Kelly

Isaac Brickman

Walter Ley

- The Supreme Court of Texas is the court of last resort for civil matters, including juvenile delinquency cases.
- The Texas Supreme Court is made up of nine justices. All nine positions are elected, with a term of office of six years and no term limits.
- Decisions are made collectively by majority vote, and a justice writes the majority opinion.
- The Texas Supreme Court is the only state supreme court in the United States in which refusing to hear a lower court’s cases implies approval of the court’s decision, thus rendering it precedent.
- Justices must be at least 35 years old, a citizen of Texas, licensed to practice law in Texas, and must have practiced law (or have been a lawyer and a judge of a court of record together) for at least ten years
- Court of Criminal Appeals judges earn a salary of $210,000 to $264,600, depending on how long they have served in office.

One of nine judges who serve on the highest civil court in Texas.

Texas

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Texas State Supreme Court Justice, Democratic Primary

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