My life is defined by the rape and murder of my sister in 1988. I was 14, and her case was never prosecuted. I have spent the 30 years since fighting to help survivors get the justice my family was denied.
Overview
Over the past two decades, Steve Kelly has earned a national reputation for helping survivors of criminal violence find justice in criminal and civil cases.
In the wake of the Maryland Child Victims Act of 2023, Steve has filed hundreds of lawsuits against the Catholic Church and other institutions that facilitated and covered up child sex abuse. He was integral to the legal team that secured a sweeping victory in the Supreme Court of Maryland upholding the new law. Steve recently represented nine graduate students in a lawsuit against Dartmouth College involving allegations of sexual abuse by professors, resulting in a record $14 million settlement.
Steve distinguishes himself from firms that treat criminal violence as “just another injury.” Generalist lawyers often lack the training to navigate the criminal justice system or the sensitivity to support trauma survivors. Steve knows that defending survivors’ rights in the criminal process prevents re-victimization and strengthens civil claims. Without advocacy during the criminal phase, survivors often waive essential privacy and restitution rights, damaging potential civil claims against perpetrators and enabling institutions.
“Justice will not be served until those who are unaffected are as outraged as those who are.”
Benjamin Franklin
