Results

Kelly’s client, a firearm instructor, came to her mystified about a federal ‘delay’ placed on his purchase of a firearm from a local gun store. After talking with her client and reviewing court transcripts and police reports, Kelly determined that the federal background check issues were caused by an imprecise statute for an old Misdemeanor Disorderly Conduct conviction. Kelly persuaded the prosecutor to agree to a more precise conviction statute that would not result in a delay or prohibition under Federal law and proceeded to obtain a court order to fix her client’s case records. Kelly’s client is now able to continue with his career as a firearm instructor and to purchase firearms without any issues with the federal background check.

Kelly’s client retained her to represent him in seeking a pardon extraordinary before the Board of Pardons for convictions of Felony Third Degree Burglary in 2002, for breaking into a car dealership where he had previously worked and stealing a radio, and Possession of Burglary/Theft Tools in 2003, for breaking into an auto-body shop where he had previously worked and attempting to steal items from cars.  In the intervening years, Kelly’s client embraced sobriety, expressed remorse for his actions, made amends and started a new life in Arizona, marrying his sweetheart and raising a young daughter. Kelly helped her client prepare a convincing application and prep for the hearing. The three member board, consisting of Minnesota Governor Walz, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Gildea and Attorney General Ellison, was convinced, voting unanimously to grant Kelly’s client a pardon extraordinary at its December 2020 meeting.

Kelly Keegan’s client retained her after being charged by the Maple Grove city prosecutor with two counts of Gross Misdemeanor Domestic Assault and one count of Disorderly Conduct as a result of a fight between her client and his girlfriend in a parking lot. Kelly was able to resolve the case with a conviction for Misdemeanor Disorderly Conduct and no jail time, despite her client’s previous conviction for Felony Second Degree (Domestic) Assault in which he served time in prison.

When Kelly’s client was 18, he was staying at the Ramada In in St. Paul with a friend and his then girlfriend. His friend went to buy soda but came back instead with a stolen bottle of alcohol from the hotel bar. After further drinking, all three returned to the bar to steal more alcohol. They were caught by hotel security and Kelly’s client was ultimately convicted of Aiding and Abetting Felony Third Degree Burglary, resulting in a lifetime firearms’ ban. Since that time, Kelly’s client rehabilitated, eventually obtaining a degree and a prominent position in Cyber Security for 3M. He is also an involved father to his children and has been in a significant relationship with his girlfriend for many years. The judge agreed with Kelly’s arguments, restoring her client’s firearm rights. Her client now plans to teach his son how to hunt and to inherit a shotgun from his uncle.

Over a 10-year period, from approximately 1992 – 2002, Kelly’s client was convicted in Ramsey County of Felony 3^rd Degree Burglary, Aiding and Abetting Felony Third Degree Robbery, and in Anoka County of Felony 5^th Degree Possession of a Controlled Substance. All three convictions were deemed to be ‘crimes of violence’ when they were committed and led to a lifetime firearms restriction. Since that time, Kelly’s client has worked hard to make amends, expressing remorse for his offenses, marrying and raising three children, and founding a youth foundation that takes at-risk children on guided fishing and hunting trips. Despite her client’s multiple convictions, Kelly was able to convince the judge that there was ‘good cause’ to restore his firearm rights. Petitioner was unable to take his children hunting but, with Kelly’s help, will now be able to teach his grandson how to hunt, while also becoming involved with the firearm activities of his foundation.