ANCHORAGE, Alaska — A federal judge in Alaska has resigned following an internal probe that unearthed allegations of creating a hostile work environment and engaging in an inappropriate sexual relationship with a former law clerk. The investigation led to a judicial conduct report, prompting the resignation amid serious violations.
U.S. District Judge Joshua M. Kindred, appointed in 2019 by then-President Donald Trump, stepped down after the investigation conducted by the 9th Circuit Judicial Council revealed he had overstepped professional boundaries by discussing personal and intimate details with clerks, and further encouraging them to rate others based on sexual desirability.
The findings of the council report detailed two incidents in October 2022 involving Kindred and the former clerk shortly after she transitioned to a role as a federal prosecutor. Additionally, Kindred and the clerk reportedly exchanged nearly 300 pages of text messages over an 11-month span.
Career repercussions for Kindred included the council’s referral of the case to the Judicial Conference of the United States, the policymaking body of U.S. Courts, which may consider an impeachment process.
Kindred submitted a brief resignation letter to President Joe Biden on Wednesday. This action gives the president the option to appoint a successor to fill the now-vacant position on the bench.
Reaction to the resignation came swiftly, with Sen. Lisa Murkowski, the senior senator from Alaska, emphasizing the need for judges to adhere to the highest standards. “Judges need to be held to the highest of standards and Mr. Kindred fell well short of that mark. I will be working quickly to advance a replacement nominee for consideration,” Murkowski stated.
This incident adds to ongoing efforts within the judiciary to strengthen mechanisms for reporting and addressing misconduct. This push for greater accountability followed the 2017 retirement of Judge Alex Kozinski of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit amid similar accusations.
Chief Judge Mary H. Murguia, who initiated the investigation into Kindred’s conduct, underlined the judiciary’s commitment to self-governance and integrity, stating, “We take judicial misconduct complaints seriously.”
The resignation leaves Chief Judge Sharon L. Gleason as the sole active, full-time federal judge in Alaska. Kindred’s caseload will be redistributed to Gleason and Judge Timothy M. Burgess, who has recently assumed senior status. This reassignment aims to ensure the continuity of judicial services in the district.
During his tenure on the bench, Kindred handled various cases, including a notable decision to dismiss a lawsuit aimed at barring Trump from appearing on Alaska’s November election ballot due to jurisdictional issues.
Before his judicial appointment, Kindred worked in various legal capacities, including as environmental counsel for the Alaska Oil and Gas Association and a federal prosecutor in the Anchorage district attorney’s office. His 2020 Senate confirmation vote reflected a political divide, passing with a 54-41 margin. Notably, it included support from Sens. Joe Manchin III and Kyrsten Sinema, who were Democrats at the time.