Newly resigned federal judge is accused of harassing a law clerk and ‘unwanted, offensive, and abusive sexual conduct’

Joshua Kindred, past an lawyer for nan Alaska Oil and Gas Association, astatine a convention successful 2018. (Photo courtesy Heather Holt)

Joshua Kindred, who resigned arsenic a U.S. District Court judge for Alaska past week, had an “inappropriately sexualized relationship” pinch 1 of his rule clerks, engaged successful “unwanted” intersexual behaviour and past lied astir it to nan main judge, according to nan Judicial Council of nan Ninth Circuit.

The findings are summarized successful a 30-page order, signed by 9 national judges. It is rife pinch specifications describing intersexual harassment, vulgar remarks and texts astir his intersexual desires and experiences. It besides describes Kindred’s attempts to mislead and contradict erstwhile confronted pinch complaints.

“We reason that Judge Kindred committed misconduct by creating a dispute activity situation for his rule clerks. That dispute activity situation included ‘unwanted, offensive, and abusive intersexual conduct, including intersexual harassment,’” nan bid reads.

Kindred voluntarily resigned, which nan tribunal announced past week, but that does not extremity nan investigation into his behavior. The national Judicial Council referred nan lawsuit to nan Judicial Conference to see recommending his impeachment.

An impeachment would person to spell done Congress. In U.S. history, only a fistful of national judges person been impeached by nan U.S. House and convicted by nan Senate. It’s not clear what nan ramifications of impeachment would be, since Kindred has already resigned, but it could forestall him from holding precocious agency again.

Then-President Donald Trump nominated Kindred to nan bench, pinch nan support of some Alaska U.S. Senators successful 2019. 

RELATED: Trump-appointed judge successful Alaska resigns aft conscionable 4 years

Sen. Lisa Murkowski issued a connection Monday calling his resignation “more than appropriate.”

“Judges request to beryllium held to nan highest of standards and Mr. Kindred fell good short of that mark,” she wrote. “I will beryllium moving quickly to beforehand a replacement nominee for consideration.”

Kindred was sworn successful in early 2020. The main judge learned of complaints against him successful November 2022, nan judicial bid says.