Kerri was born in Port Jefferson, New York. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree, summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, from SUNY at Albany in 1992 and her Juris Doctor, cum laude, top 15% from Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law in 1995.

She was admitted to the New York State bar in 1996 and to the United States District Court, Eastern District in 1999.

As an attorney, her memberships include the Long Island Chapter of the Cardozo Alumni Association, Cardozo Women and the Nassau County Bar Association.