[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 28 (Tuesday, February 11, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Pages S984-S985]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                    Nomination of Joshua M. Kindred

  Ms. MURKOWSKI. Madam President, I have come to the floor this evening 
to speak in support of the nomination of Joshua Kindred to be a U.S. 
district court judge for the District of Alaska. We were able to move 
forward with the first step toward the confirmation of Mr. Kindred, but 
I just wanted to take a couple of minutes and speak as to why I believe 
he is well qualified to serve in this capacity and deserves to be 
confirmed by the Senate with, hopefully, broad bipartisan support.
  I am glad and I am pleased that he has been willing to step into a 
new role for our State. Josh Kindred comes from Anchorage, where I am 
living. He currently serves as Alaska's regional solicitor for the 
Department of the Interior. He has been doing a good job, a strong job, 
for us there. Before joining the Department, Mr. Kindred served as the 
environmental counsel for the Alaska Oil and Gas Association, as well 
as an assistant district attorney and violent unit supervisor for the 
State of Alaska. He also served as a law clerk to Chief Justice Paul De 
Muniz of the Supreme Court of the State of Oregon.
  One way that you know that Mr. Kindred has good judgment is that he 
went to the same law school I did. So it can't be all bad there. He 
earned his juris doctorate from Willamette University College of Law. 
He served as editor in chief of the Willamette Law Review and certainly 
demonstrated great skills and abilities at that level.
  I think it is important to speak to Mr. Kindred's biographical 
details to illustrate that his experience is both considerable and is 
really relevant. It is directly relevant for this new role that he is 
seeking. It is that experience in a host of different areas that 
matters for our State, and I believe that will help him as a Federal 
jurist.
  Mr. Kindred's experience in civil, criminal, and administrative law 
at both the State and the Federal levels, in both the public sector as 
well as the private sector, is exactly what we should be seeking in a 
nominee for a court of original jurisdiction, such as the U.S. District 
Court for the District of Alaska.
  Josh Kindred is no stranger to the courtroom. He has extensive trial 
experience, which is, of course, important for operating in the 
courtroom. His background also brings a welcomed and valuable 
understanding of Alaska's unique Federal laws and landscape. He has 
extensive experience in Federal lands, mining, natural resources, oil 
and gas laws, and environmental laws and permitting. These are all 
things--all things--that are constantly litigated back home and that 
apply to so many of the important priorities that we have in Alaska.
  You often hear me talk about the fact that Alaska is different. It is 
unique, and, certainly, some of our laws--many of our laws--reflect 
that. Not many are truly knowledgeable about ANCSA, about ANILCA. These 
are critically important to understand, and Mr. Kindred certainly 
understands them. That skill set, that operational base of knowledge on 
Alaska-specific laws and matters, is really vital for our State.
  In addition, and perhaps of equal importance, Mr. Kindred has long 
called Alaska home. He was raised in our local schools. He is raising 
his young family there. He comes from good family. He married into good 
family. He is a good Alaskan. He knows Alaska. He understands our State 
well.
  I am proud of Mr. Kindred's continued commitment to public service 
and his willingness to serve our State. So, again, I would urge the 
Senate to confirm Josh Kindred. I know that he will do well in his new 
role, as he has done in all his others.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The majority leader.

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