Discipline Notice - Michael J. Kelly

License Number: 31816
Member Name: Michael J. Kelly
Discipline Detail
Action: Reprimand
Effective Date: 7/1/2022
RPC: 5.8 - Misconduct Involving Disbarred, Suspended, Resigned, or Inactive Lawyers
Discipline Notice: Order Approving Stipulations
Stipulation to Reprimand
Notice of Reprimand
Description: Michael John Kelly (WSBA No. 31816, admitted 2001) of Des Moines, was reprimanded, effective 7/01/2022, by order of the Chief Hearing Officer. The lawyer’s conduct violated the following Rules of Professional Conduct: 5.8 (Misconduct Involving Disbarred, Suspended, Resigned, and Inactive Lawyers).

In relation to his co-representation of a client in a United States District Court, Western District of Washington case, Kelly stipulated to reprimand for practicing law in cooperation with a suspended attorney and by permitting that suspended attorney to use Respondent’s name for the practice of law. Respondent knew that the attorney’s license to practice law was suspended but continued to practice law with him as co-counsel and allowed him to use Respondent’s name to practice law.

Erica Temple acted as disciplinary counsel. Christopher Ray Hardman represented Respondent. The online version of Washington State Bar News contains links to the following documents: Order Approving Stipulation to Reprimand; Stipulation to Reprimand; and Notice of Reprimand.


In some cases, discipline search results will not reveal all disciplinary action relating to a Washington licensed legal professional, and may not display links to the official decision documents. Click the "Important Information" button below for further details.

Important Information +

This discipline search accesses notices of disciplinary action since 1984, and for cases decided in 2013 or later, also generally includes the official decision documents. The search does not contain pre-1984 notices or records, and may not contain the official decision documents in cases decided before 2013. To obtain other records of discipline, including pre-1984 discipline documents, please make a public records request.

The action listed on the discipline notice does not in all cases reflect the current status of the legal professional's license. Check the Legal Directory for current status information.