Results

Kelly’s client came to her for help advancing his career as a franchisee owner and operator since his drug conviction blocked him from partnering in the ownership of franchises. He also dreamed of joining family members to deer hunt on land in Northern Minnesota that has been in his family for over 100 years. Kelly cited numerous facts to the judge to demonstrate that her client has rehabilitated and deserves both expungement gun rights’ restoration. These include his stable, successful career, his commitment to volunteering and community involvement and the support he enjoys from his employer and numerous community members and family. The judge agreed, granting the expungement and restoring her client’s gun rights. Kelly’s client can now pursue his dream of direct franchise ownership and joining his family to hunt on his ancestral family land.

Kelly’s client was charged with two gross misdemeanor counts of stalking for repeatedly contacting an ex-girlfriend by phone, text and mail after she ended the relationship. Kelly was first able to defeat the ex-girlfriend’s request for an Order for Protection after a contested hearing where it was shown there had been no physical abuse. Kelly then turned to the criminal charges, arguing the stalking law was unconstitutional. A judge agreed and dismissed the charges. The prosecutor for the City of Maple Grove then filed three new charges for misdemeanor harassment. Kelly again raised a constitutional challenge to those new charges, arguing those laws were in violation of the client’s first amendment right to free speech. The prosecutor finally agreed to dismiss all charges against Kelly’s client with no admission of guilty or wrongdoing if the client agreed to not have any further contact with the ex-girlfirend.

Kelly’s client was convicted in 1990 in Washington County of a Fifth Degree Controlled Substance crime for delivering marijuana. He was convicted again in 1999 of another Fifth Degree Controlled Substance crime for being found to be in possession of marijuana for alleged distribution and sale. Both crimes are considered crimes of violence under Minnesota law and led to a lifetime ban on using or possessing firearms. Despite the prosecutor’s opposition, Kelly was able to demonstrate to the court that her client’s rights should be restored due to the length of time since the conviction and her client’s rehabilitation, including his ‘stable and productive’ lifestyle. As a result, Kelly’s client will now be able to take possession of an antique firearm he inherited from his father and to join his friends and neighbors at the local shooting range for target practice. 

Kelly Keegan’s client retained her after charges were filed against her son relating to a domestic dispute. What was most troubling to Kelly’s client was a DANCO order that had been issued restricting contact with her son and forcing him to live in a hotel. Kelly made multiple appearances on behalf of her client, advocating her client’s position that the DANCO was unnecessary and caused harm to both her client and her son. Her arguments were ultimately successful, with the DANCO lifted. With Kelly’s help, her client has now been reunited with her son, who plans to return to his childhood home to live with his mother.

Kelly Keegan’s client pled guilty in 2011 to felony first degree burglary after stealing two laptops and a camera from an occupied residence after getting drunk at a college party. The conviction not only derailed his college dreams but his lifelong love of hunting: since 2011, Kelly’s client has not been able to participate in annual family hunts with his wife’s family or to obtain venison, which is a food source for their family. Kelly was able to convince the court that her client deserved to have his gun rights restored, arguing that the exemplary life he has led following his conviction demonstrates that the restoration of his rights does not present a risk to public safety. Now, with Kelly’s help, her client, for the first time in over a decade, will be able to join family and friends on their fall hunting outings this year.