A high-profile misconduct case involving former U.S. District Judge Joshua Kindred in Alaska has resulted in the overturning of a defendant's conviction and public revelations of a toxic and coercive environment within the Anchorage legal community. The scandal, which includes allegations of sexual misconduct, abuse of power, and undisclosed conflicts of interest, has cast a shadow over the judiciary and federal prosecution in Alaska.

Kindred resigned in July following a Ninth Circuit Judicial Council investigation that found he had fostered a hostile work environment and engaged in inappropriate sexualized relationships, including two sexual encounters with a former law clerk who later joined the U.S. Attorney's Office in Anchorage. The inquiry also revealed that Kindred had pressured a senior prosecutor, identified as Karen Vandergaw, to send him nude photographs via encrypted messaging services.

In letters disclosed during legal proceedings, Vandergaw recounted that Kindred requested the photos beginning in December 2021 while bragging about his political influence and offering to help her secure a federal judgeship. She described feeling "completely powerless" and fearful of retribution, stating, "He made it clear he had the power to ruin my life."

Kindred’s undisclosed relationship with Vandergaw led a federal judge to vacate the conviction of Rolando Hernandez-Zamora, who was previously found guilty of cyberstalking in a trial overseen by Kindred. Senior U.S. District Judge Marco Hernandez, in a newly unsealed order, granted a new trial due to the conflict of interest stemming from the Kindred-Vandergaw relationship.

The retrial concluded last week, with Hernandez-Zamora being re-convicted. However, the case has drawn scrutiny over the greater implications of judicial integrity and the impact of undisclosed relationships on the fairness of legal proceedings.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office and Vandergaw have not commented publicly on the revelations. Vandergaw’s involvement was detailed in a February 2023 letter during the Ninth Circuit investigation, where she initially described her relationship with Kindred as professional. In August 2024, after Kindred’s resignation, she admitted to sending him nude photos under duress, further exacerbating concerns about the judge’s abuse of power.

Defense attorneys have argued that Kindred’s conduct compromised the integrity of cases he presided over, with defense lawyer Alexis Howell asserting in a motion that Kindred’s actions created “an atmosphere of fear and coercion” that tainted the judicial process.