Disgraced Judge’s Exit Leaves Alaska Federal Court Short-Handed

An Alaska federal judge’s abrupt resignation following explosive sexual misconduct findings threatens to back up cases at an already understaffed court.

Joshua Kindred’s departure creates a second vacancy on the three-seat court for Alaska’s two Republican senators, Dan Sullivan and Lisa Murkowski, to help President Joe Biden fill.

But the court may be months or longer away from reinforcements, a delay that’s likely to strain its single active judge. A contributing factor is the different methods Murkowski and Sullivan have for evaluating judicial candidates, and space on the congressional calendar is dwindling before the election.

“The people of Alaska, the ...