Born in Maldon, England, McKelvie received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Harvard University in 1968 and a Juris Doctor from the University of Pennsylvania Law School in 1973.
[1] On November 5, 1991, McKelvie was nominated by President George H. W. Bush to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Delaware vacated by Judge Murray Merle Schwartz.
McKelvie was confirmed by the United States Senate on February 27, 1992, and received his commission on March 2, 1992.
[1] McKelvie served in that capacity for a decade, during which time over 200 patent infringement cases were filed in his court, of which over 30 went to trial.
[1] He thereafter returned to private practice with the firm of Covington & Burling in Washington, D.C., but has since retired.