Kelli Wise is the Presiding Judge on the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals, where she has served since 2001. She has been involved in a number of the Stennis Center's programs  for women leaders over the years.

During her legal career, Judge Wise worked in the Governor's Legislative Office, served as legal counsel for ProStaff HRM, Inc., and was associated with the law firms of John Taber & Associates and Pittman, Pittman, Carwie & Fuquay. Prior to her election to the bench, Judge Wise served as staff attorney to Justice Jean Brown on the Alabama Supreme Court and the Court of Criminal Appeals.

Judge Wise is an active member of various civic and professional organizations including the Alabama State Bar, the Montgomery County Bar Association, Envision 2020 Riverfront Development Task Force, Family Sunshine Center Associate Board, Montgomery Junior League, St. James United Methodist Church Staff/Parish Relations, Women in Missions Board of Directors, Camellia Garden Club, Max Federal Credit Union Board of Directors, The Federalist Society, and the State Bar Criminal Law Section Task Force. She serves on the Advisory Board of AUM's School of Public Administration. Judge Wise is a former Ambassador with the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce and a past president of the Capital City Republican Women. In 1999, she was honored to be named The National Young Republican of the Year. In 2002, Judge Wise was selected by the American Council of Young Political Leaders to participate in a bilateral exchange with Indonesia.

Judge Wise received a B. S. in biology, with a minor in nursing, from Auburn University in 1985. In 1994, she obtained her Juris Doctorate from Jones School of Law. While attending law school, Judge Wise interned in the Criminal Appeals Division of the Alabama Attorney General's Office. She earned an MPA from Auburn University Montgomery in 2000.