Kelso is the director of the Institute for Legislative Practice at McGeorge School of Law, where he has served since 1994. He has worked closely with the leadership in the California Senate and Assembly and within the Judicial and Executive Branches on constitutional amendments, legislation and rules of court to improve and reform the California Judiciary and the administration of justice.
Kelso also has a broad background in technology, serving as the director of the Center for Access to the Courts through Technology. Gov. Davis appointed Kelso as the chairman of the California Earthquake Authority in November 2000 and confirmed his appointment as California's Acting Insurance Commissioner.
He has also held key positions on Judicial Council committees and task forces, including the Judicial Council's Appellate Process Task Force; the Blue Ribbon Commission on Jury System Improvement; the Judicial Council Court Technology Task Force; and the 2020 Vision Project regarding Judicial Independence, Judicial Technology, and the Appellate Courts.