​​​​​​​​Kelly Thompson was elected to the Supreme Court in November 2022 from the 2nd Supreme Court District, which is composed of Western Kentucky counties.

He served as a Kentucky Court of Appeals judge from January 2007 until his election to the Supreme Court.

Judge Thompson was chief trial counsel for the Kentucky Department of Highways in Hardin County from 1972 to 1973 and served as law clerk for the Kentucky Court of Appeals from 1973 to 1974. He then practiced law in Bowling Green from 1974 until his election to the Court of Appeals. He was the chief public advocate for the 8th Judicial District from 1976 to 1999 and he twice served on the board of directors for the Bowling Green-Warren County Bar Association.

Judge Thompson graduated from Western Kentucky University in 1968 with a bachelor's degree and a teaching certificate. He earned his juris doctor from the University of Kentucky College of Law in 1972.

Judge Thompson has been admitted to practice before the U.S. Board of Claims and the U.S. Supreme Court. He has successful appellate experience in the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals, the Supreme Court of Kentucky and the Kentucky Court of Appeals. He is a recipient of the Kentucky Bar Association's Donated Legal Services Recognition Award. He has been certified as a civil trial specialist by the National Board of Trial Advocacy, which is accredited by the American Bar Association to certify lawyers in civil, criminal and family law trial advocacy. Judge Thompson has also served as a board member of numerous civic organizations in Warren County.​