Mr. Stelly concentrates his practice in the areas of general civil litigation and appellate practice in state and federal courts including governmental liability, personal injury, commercial litigation, admiralty and maritime law, civil rights and employment law, and toxic tort litigation.

Education

• University of Texas, Austin, Texas, B.B.A., 1988
  • Dean’s List
  • Darrell Royal Scholarship
  • Athletic Trainer (Football, 1984–1988; Tennis, 1987–1988)
• Texas Tech University School of Law, Lubbock, Texas, J.D., 1994
  • Chairman, Texas Tech Board of Barristers
  • Dean’s Scholarship
  • Order of the Barristers
  • Delta Theta Phi Legal Fraternity

Admitted to Practice

• State Bar of Texas, 1994
• U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Texas, 1995
• U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas, 1995
• U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas, 1995
• U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas, 1995
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, 1995

Professional Associations

• State Bar of Texas
  • Local Bar Services Committee, 2001–2003
  • Director, District 3, 2022–2025
    • Performance Measures & Strategic Planning
    • Appeals – Grant Review
• College of the State Bar of Texas, 1996–1997
• Texas Bar Foundation (Fellow; 2000–present)
• Texas Young Lawyers Association
  • Board of Directors, 1998–2001
  • President’s Award of Merit, 2000 and 2001
  • Long Range Planning and Redistricting Committee, 2000–2001
  • Technology Committee, 2001–2002
  • Co-Chair or Vice Chair of the following committees:
    • Member Services, 2000–2001
    • National Trial, 1999–2001
    • State Moot Court, 1998–2001
    • Voter Education, 1999–2000
    • Aspiring Youth Program, 1998–1999
    • Bar Journal, 1998–1999
• Joseph M. Pritchard Inn
• Jefferson County Bar Association
  • Representative, 2002–2003
  • Secretary, 2001–2002
  • Liaison, Texas Lawyer Assistance Program
  • Lawyer Referral Service Committee
• Jefferson County Bar Association Foundation
  • Director, 2001–2003
• Jefferson County Young Lawyers Association
  • Board of Directors, 1996–2003
  • President, 2002–2003
  • President-Elect, 2001–2002
  • Vice President, 2000–2001
  • Treasurer, 1997–1998
  • TYLA Liaison, 1998–2001
  • Committee Involvement
    • Judge, Evelyn M. Lord Teen Court, 1994–2005
    • Chairman, New Lawyer Orientation, 1997–1998
    • Volunteer Speaker, Crossing the Line, 1999–2003
    • Volunteer Speaker, “Now You’re 18,” 1996–2004
    • Volunteer, Habitat for Humanity, 2001
    • Volunteer Judge, H.S. Mock Trial Competition, 1994–2005
    • Volunteer Mediator, Jefferson County Settlement Week
  • Nominated for Outstanding Young Lawyer of Jefferson County
• Texas Association of Defense Counsel, 1997–2000
• Defense Research Institute, 1997–1999
• Michelle Mehaffy American Inn of Court
  • Membership Chairman, 2000–2006
• Propeller Club of the United States, Port of Sabine
  • Director, 1996–1998
• Texas City Attorney Association
  • City of Sour Lake, City Attorney

Civic Involvement

• Graduate of Leadership Beaumont, 1998
• Diocese of Beaumont
  • Finance Council, 2014–present
• Christ Central Youth Camp, Board of Directors, 2022–present
• Hardin-Jefferson ISD School Board
  • Member, 2015–2022
  • Vice President, 2022–present
• China Elementary, Sunshine Greeter, 2017–2022
• Little League Baseball/Softball, Coach, 2007–2016
• Girls Fastpitch Softball, Coach, 2016–present
• St. Jude Thaddeus Catholic Church
  • Lector
  • Eucharistic Minister
  • Confirmation Teacher

Professional Honors

• St. Thomas More Award, 2019
• Listed, Best Lawyers in America©, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants, 2019–Present
• Listed, Texas Super Lawyers, 2021–present