Kelly Vomacka

Kelly is a recognized expert in the intersections of immigration, criminal, and juvenile law. After a substantial career as a public defender in both the trial and appellate courts, she felt the pull to immigration law. She sees immigration practice as a natural extension of her lifelong commitment to civil and human rights.

 

Kelly then ran her own law practice for more than 10 years, primarily seeking predicate orders for Special Immigrant Juvenile classification and also bringing motions for post-conviction relief. She joined Gibbs Houston Pauw in 2024, and in addition to continuing her SIJ and PCR work, she is also branching into federal litigation.

 

Kelly is a member of the statewide Unaccompanied Children’s Task Force. She has traveled to the southern border five times to interview children who recently crossed the border and to inspect children’s detention facilities on behalf of plaintiff’s counsel in Reno v. Flores. She is also a frequent presenter on the topics of Special Immigrant Juvenile classification and post-conviction relief for immigrants. And she regularly volunteers for OneAmerica’s Citizenship Days.

 

Kelly received her Bachelor of Science in Math from the University of Puget Sound, where she graduated with honors, and she received her Juris Doctor from Seattle University. She is admitted to practice in Washington State and in the federal court for the Western District of Washington. She is from Southern.