Tag Archives: William Kelly

GR Bar Association honors Kentwood’s Judge Kelly

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Judge William Kelly

In recognition of his service to the legal profession and community, Judge William G. Kelly of Kentwood’s 62-B District Court has been selected by the Grand Rapids Bar Association as the recipient of the 2018 Donald R. Worsfold Award.

 

Kelly was honored with the award during Grand Rapids Bar Association’s Annual Law Day Celebration and Awards Luncheon on May 1 at the University Club in downtown Grand Rapids.

 

The Donald R. Worsfold Award is presented when the association wishes to acknowledge and honor the contributions of a member whose service stands out for its extraordinary impact on the life of the community. In addition to Kelly, the Hon. Paul Sullivan and Hon. Janet Neff will also receive this award.

 

““I’’m humbled to be receiving this recognition,”” Kelly said. ““Service to my community, the legal profession and the Bar has always been of the upmost importance to me throughout my legal career and nearly 40 years on the bench.””

 

Kelly has served the Kentwood community as the City’’s first and only district court judge since 1979. He was elected in November of 1978, following his father, Joseph Kelly, who served as Kentwood’’s municipal judge from 1971-1979. In 2014, he was re-elected for a term that expires in 2020.

 

Active professionally, Kelly serves on the Foreign Language Board of Review and is a member of the Legislative Committee of the Michigan District Judges Association. Previously, Kelly has served as president of the Michigan District Judges Association; chair of the Judicial Conference of the State Bar of Michigan; chair of the National Conference of the Special Court Judges of the American Bar Association; chair of the Judicial Division Committee on Traffic Court Program of the ABA; member of the board of trustees of the Grand Rapids Bar Association; and member of the board of directors of the National Center for State Courts from 1994 to 2000.

 

Kelly has received numerous awards throughout his career, including: Marian Hilligan Public Service Award from WMU-Cooley Law School; William R. McMahon Award from the ABA for the most significant implementation of technological advances in a court of limited or special jurisdiction; Judicial Excellence Award from the Michigan District Judges Association; Peacemaker Award from the Dispute Resolution Center of West Michigan and St. Thomas More Award from the Catholic Lawyers Association of West Michigan.

Kentwood celebrates paying off 15-year bond for Justice Center

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City of Kentwood has officially paid off its $10 million bond for the Justice Center.
City of Kentwood has officially paid off its $10 million bond for the Justice Center.

There are a couple of things that 62B District Court Judge William Kelly is proud of when it comes to the City of Kentwood’s Justice Center. One, that it was completed on budget and on time and two, the functionality of the facility.

 

“I wouldn’t trade this facility for any courthouse in West Michigan,” Kelly said.

 

And Kelly can add one more thing to that list: the city officially has paid off the $10 million bond issue within its 15-year time frame. To celebrate the achievement, there will be an open house Friday, May 6 at the Justice Center, 4740 Walma Ave. SE,  next to Kentwood City Hall.

 

“The city did it through financial prudence,” Kelly said about paying off the bond, adding that because of that Kentwood has earned AA+ bond rating, which is very rare for a municipality.

 

It was in the face of overcrowding and the need to add police officers to its city that then Mayor Bill Hardiman went to Kentwood residents and told them that if they approved a millage to add an additional 20 police officers to the current 50-member force, city officials would find a way to build the center that would house the 62B District Court and the Kentwood Police Department, according to Kelly.

 

The millage was approved and the Kentwood City Commission set about to do what had been promised.

 

“It was hard for the city commission,” said Kelly, who has served as the district judge for 37 years. “It was the first time the city had ever gone for a bond for a general obligation.”

 

The commission approved a $10 million bond for 15 years to be paid out of the general fund. Several key city officials were involved in the design of the new Justice Center including Kelly, former police chief Richard Mattice and former public works director Ron Woods, who was in charge of overseeing construction.

 

Before the Justice Center, the city had to rent trailers to house some staff from the police and finance departments. Within the current city hall, the former district court space became the city commission chambers and the former police department space became the mayor’s offices.

 

“We are thrilled to make the final payment for Kentwood’s Justice Center,” said Mayor Stephen Kepley. “Our citizens made a significant investment and we have ensured that the facility is paid off on schedule and is adequately maintained for the long-term benefit of the community.”

 

A couple of years later, the city would take out a $15 million bond for a new fire station and public works facility along with the remodeling of city hall and two other fire stations. In 2008, voters approved a library millage for the construction and maintenance needs of the current library facility, which was the last building within the city complex located off of Breton Avenue.