On Tuesday, September 24, 2024, the Anchorage Daily News reported that U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski has expressed her support for an initiative to impeach former Alaska federal judge Joshua Kindred. Kindred resigned in July following an investigation by the 9th Circuit Judicial Council, which uncovered allegations of sexual misconduct, a hostile work environment, and dishonesty during the inquiry.
Murkowski made her stance clear in a post on X, previously known as Twitter, stating, “I am in complete agreement with the Judicial Conference of the United States and their recommendation that former U.S. District Judge Josh Kindred be considered for impeachment.” She emphasized that if Kindred were to be convicted, he could face disqualification from holding any future office.
The Judicial Conference recently communicated with the U.S. House regarding the potential impeachment of Kindred. This communication included a letter that highlighted the severity of the allegations against him. House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana, confirmed receipt of the letter. The Judicial Conference noted that in cases of “less egregious conduct,” impeachment might not be pursued if the judge has already resigned. However, they asserted that the gravity of Kindred’s misconduct justifies moving forward with impeachment proceedings.
The letter also mentioned that, despite Kindred’s resignation, Congress has the option to decide against pursuing impeachment. If the House chooses not to proceed, the certification of the misconduct could serve as a public censure, reinforcing that Kindred’s actions have tarnished the reputation of the judiciary and do not reflect the “good behavior” expected of federal judges.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell criticized the judiciary for its decision to refer Kindred for impeachment after his resignation, describing it as a “remarkable action.” He pointed out that there is significant debate regarding whether former officials can be impeached post-tenure. McConnell remarked, “They are surely aware that whether or not you can impeach a former official is hotly disputed. But they referred it anyway.”
If impeachment proceedings against Kindred advance, it would mark a rare event in U.S. history. Since 1803, only 15 federal judges have been impeached by Congress, according to the Federal Judicial Center.
In addition to the impeachment discussion, Murkowski acknowledged that she is aware of an ongoing investigation by the Department of Justice into the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Anchorage. The specifics of this investigation remain unclear, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office has not provided confirmation regarding the inquiry. Murkowski expressed hope for a swift resolution and 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.”
The ramifications of Kindred’s tenure are still being felt in Anchorage, where numerous criminal cases have been flagged due to potential conflicts of interest involving Kindred and attorneys. Defense attorneys are reportedly preparing to challenge these cases, alleging that federal prosecutors have engaged in “knowing and willful suppression of information” regarding these conflicts.
Source: Anchorage Daily News
