On Saturday, November 8, 2025, Alaska News Source reported that former federal judge Joshua Kindred has been disbarred by the Alaska Supreme Court following accusations of misconduct. This marks the first instance of a judge being disbarred in the state’s history.
The disbarment follows an investigation into Kindred’s behavior, which revealed a “sexualized relationship” with a clerk who later became a prosecutor, and that he subsequently lied about the relationship to a senior judge and investigators. He is also accused of fostering a hostile work environment for his law clerks. Kindred resigned from his position in 2024.
The Alaska Bar Association had recommended Kindred’s disbarment in August, citing his creation of a hostile work environment through frequent discussions about his personal life, including sexually explicit conversations. The association also accused Kindred of unwanted sexual conduct, both physical and verbal, towards a former judicial employee, and of instructing individuals with knowledge of the alleged misconduct to remain silent. According to the bar association, Kindred repeatedly lied about his inappropriate behavior with his law clerks during the investigation.
Assistant bar counsel Louise Driscall noted the public’s outrage, stating that the bar association received numerous calls from lawyers and members of the public expressing concern over the lack of action. Driscall also characterized Kindred’s text messages as “vulgar” and expressed disbelief at his behavior.
Kindred admitted to lying to the Special Committee during questioning on April 5, 2024. The Judicial Council’s Special Committee also highlighted the content of 628 pages of text messages from a chambers group chat, describing them as “crude, sexual, personal, and vulgar.” The report detailed instances where Kindred made inappropriate comments, including offering to pay for a person’s “next ass tattoo” and suggesting he would bring “Patron, heroin, and whip-its” to a chambers dinner party.
In its ruling, the Alaska Supreme Court ordered Kindred to pay $1,000 to the Alaska Bar Association for costs and attorney’s fees. He must also provide full restitution to the Lawyer’s Fund for Client Protection, the Alaska Bar Association, and all clients for any unpaid fee arbitration awards. To be reinstated to the practice of law, Kindred must complete at least 15 credit hours of continuing legal education in ethics, law office management, and management of law office accounts.
Kindred was appointed to the U.S. District Court of Alaska in 2020 by President Donald Trump, with support from U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan.
Source: Alaska News Source
