State of Wisconsin Office of The State Public Defender
S t a t e   o f   W i s c o n s i n  
Office of The State Public Defender
Wisconsin Forward Award Mastery Recipient


Kelli Thompson is the Deputy State Public Defender. Kelli received her undergraduate degree in Political Science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1993, and her law degree from Marquette University in 1996.

Kelli began her career with the State Public Defender's Office (SPD) in 1996, working first as an intern while attending law school and then being hired as a Trial Attorney in the SPD's Milwaukee Trial Office. In 2001, Kelli went to work for a public relations firm, Zigman Joseph Stephenson, as Legislative Counsel. In 2002, she was appointed as a Commissioner to the Wisconsin Personnel Commission. Kelli returned to the SPD in 2003, and served as Training Director and Legal Counsel before being appointed Deputy State Public Defender.

Kelli is active in a variety of community organizations, including the Wisconsin Literacy Council and the Wisconsin Women's Health Foundation.

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