On Wednesday, September 25, 2024, Alaska Public Media reported that the Alaska U.S. Attorney’s Office is currently under investigation by the Department of Justice in connection with allegations of sexual misconduct involving a former federal judge, Joshua Kindred. This revelation was shared by Senator Lisa Murkowski.
Kindred, who resigned from his position as U.S. District Court Judge in early July, faced scrutiny following a report from the 9th Circuit’s Judicial Council. The report detailed his inappropriate relationships with two federal prosecutors, one of whom had previously worked as his law clerk. Allegations indicate that Kindred not only pursued a sexual relationship with this former clerk but also made unwanted sexual advances and shared sexual remarks within his office, creating a hostile work environment.
The implications of Kindred’s conduct have raised concerns regarding his impartiality, particularly in relation to at least 40 cases that he presided over. In light of these findings, the U.S. Judicial Conference has urged the U.S. House to consider impeachment proceedings against Kindred. However, Republican leaders in Congress have indicated that such actions are unlikely since Kindred has already stepped down from his judicial role.
Senator Murkowski noted that the U.S. Attorney’s Office acted promptly in notifying the Judicial Council about the allegations against Kindred. Nevertheless, the former law clerk has since claimed that she experienced retaliation for her whistleblower actions, prompting a review of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s handling of the situation.
In her social media post dated September 17, Murkowski expressed her support for the investigation by the Department of Justice’s Office of Professional Responsibility, emphasizing the need for a swift resolution. She also aligned herself with the Judicial Conference’s stance on pursuing impeachment for Kindred, highlighting that if convicted, he could be disqualified from holding any future judicial positions.
Murkowski stated, “We must send a message that there is zero tolerance for this reprehensible behavior in our judicial system or any workplace in this country.”
Both the Department of Justice and the Alaska U.S. Attorney’s Office have declined to confirm the specifics of the investigation. Additionally, Senator Murkowski announced her sponsorship of new legislation aimed at providing stronger protections for federal judicial employees against sexual harassment, retaliation, and other forms of workplace misconduct, including discrimination.
Source: Alaska Public Media
