Kelly has been a prosecutor for more than 30 years, serving as both an assistant district attorney in Allegheny County and most recently as senior litigation counsel as Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania.
"I know from my personal experience that throughout her career she has consistently demonstrated good judgment, common sense and has the experience to successfully lead the Attorney General's office," Gov. Corbett said.
The attorney general is the state's top law enforcement officer, with civil and criminal court responsibilities as well as consumer protection. The office has about 750 employees with 20 offices across the Commonwealth.
"I am excited about the opportunity to continue my service to the people of Pennsylvania in this new and challenging endeavor,'' Kelly said. "I am honored and humbled by Governor Corbett's confidence in me and I look forward to working with the men and women of the attorney general's office."
Kelly's nomination requires confirmation by the Pennsylvania Senate. Following the tradition of other nominees for attorney general, Kelly has promised not to run when the post comes up for election in 2012.
Kelly, 61, began her career in the mid-1970s as an assistant district attorney in Allegheny County, joining the U.S. Attorney's Office in 1980.
She was twice named acting U.S. Attorney, first for 15 months through October 1998 and then for five months in 2001.
After the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, the U.S. Attorney's Office created a national security section within its criminal division. Kelly has served as anti-terrorism coordinator for the U.S. Attorney's Office in Pittsburgh and as liaison to other federal, state and local law enforcement agencies in the district.
In addition, Kelly has handled the prosecution of a variety of other crimes including racketeering, narcotics cases and illegal gambling operations.
She has prosecuted and supervised a number of cases based on investigations by the Internal Revenue Service, Postal Inspector and Federal Bureau of Investigation.
As interim U.S. Attorney, Kelly has worked with the Allegheny County and Pittsburgh's Youth Works job initiative, which recruits employers for at-risk youths.
Kelly is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh, where she earned a bachelor's degree in English, and the Duquesne University School of Law.
She and her husband, Paul, are the parents of a daughter, Kate, who is a third-year student at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law.
If confirmed, Kelly would become Pennsylvania's first female attorney general since the office became an elected position in 1980. The last woman to hold the post was Anne X. Alpern from 1959 to 1961.
