Having presided over hundreds of trials and resolved scores of significant cases in her 20+ years as a trial judge, including eight years as a civil trial judge, Hon. Kathleen Kelly (Ret.) has built a reputation for her unwavering commitment to helping litigants resolve their cases. She is known for her thorough preparation and analysis for each case, her openness to innovative approaches and her determination to help parties bring finality to their disputes. Her work has shaped lives both in and out of the courtroom, from pioneering family focused treatment courts to highly contested jury trials. With her deep experience both as a litigator and then as a trial judge she brings invaluable perspective to her work. Now, as a neutral with ADR Services, Inc., she brings that same energy and commitment to helping parties resolve their cases. We spoke with Judge Kelly about her path, her values, and the philosophy behind her approach to dispute resolution.
When negotiations stall and trial looms, experienced mediators know that breaking impasse requires more than persistence—it requires insight into what’s really holding the case back. In this practical, example-driven CLE, former settlement judges Hon. Suzanne Bolanos (Ret.) and Hon. Kathleen Kelly (Ret.) draw from courtroom and mediation experience to unpack some common barriers to resolution in high-stakes civil disputes—and how to overcome them.
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