Virginia Coulson Kelly, Class of 1964
Judge
Virginia C. Kelly had a very busy high school career, graduating in 1964. She was active in Student Council, Girls League, Tucsonian Yearbook staff, National Honor Society, just to name a few. Following graduation she attended the University of Arizona, earning a BA Degree in Education with honors in Speech. She then attended the University of Wisconsin and earned her MA Degree in Communications and Public Address.
She began her teaching career at Sunnyside High School where she taught speech, English, and coached the high school debate team. During that time, she also taught public speaking and business communication classes at Pima Community College.
She took time off to raise her three children and then had a strong desire to go to the University of Arizona, College of Law, graduating Juris Doctor, magna cum laude in 1990.
She began her law career at the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the criminal section. In 1994 she went into the private sector, working for Gust Rosenfeld doing civil litigation. Virginia returned to the U.S. Attorney’s office serving as a deputy chief of the criminal and appellate sections before becoming a Pima County Superior Court Judge. Currently, Virginia is a judge on the Arizona Court of Appeals. She is the only woman to serve on both the Pima County Superior Court and the Arizona Court of Appeals.
She serves on the Executive Board of the Southern Arizona Chapter of the Junior Diabetes Research Foundation, donating both her time and money to help find a cure.
Virginia has always been there for her children at each and every stage of their lives, providing guidance, leadership and unconditional love. She truly holds a world of wisdom when it comes to parenting, patience, and taking care of her family. Her homemade tile work, that adorns her backyard, has been featured on the front page of the Sunday “Home and Garden” section of the Arizona Daily Star.
Virginia is married to The Honorable John Kelly Retired. They have three children, John, Michael (Piper), and Carol (Chris) Corry. She adores her two beautiful grandchildren, Jason Kelly and Alice Corry.