Embattled Utah judge resigns after House speaker threatens impeachment
Apr 17, 2025, 6:05 PM | Updated: 6:12 pm
William K. Kendall the former judge for the Third District Court. (The Utah State Courts)
(The Utah State Courts)
SALT LAKE CITY — A Utah judge charged with sexual abuse has resigned his position.
William Kendall submitted his letter of resignation to Gov. Spencer Cox and Chief Justice Matthew Durrant Thursday, one day after the House speaker said lawmakers would consider impeachment if the embattled judge didn’t step down.
Kendall, 54, was charged two weeks ago with forcible sexual abuse, distributing or arranging to distribute a controlled substance, and possessing marijuana and drug paraphernalia.
Prosecutors said Kendall provided a “weed pen” to a woman on Feb. 21 at a gathering at his home, and that he touched a woman inappropriately multiple times that evening without her consent. Kendall had been on administrative leave without pay since he was charged.
“It has been the greatest honor of my life to sit on the Third District Court,” Kendall wrote in his brief resignation letter obtained by KSL TV. “I will miss my time on the bench and those with whom I worked closely to serve the people of Utah.”
A day earlier, Utah House Speaker Mike Schultz, R-Hooper, said he was concerned by the allegations against Kendall and felt the judge should have resigned before now. Schultz said lawmakers were prepared to begin the impeachment process if Kendall didn’t step down soon.
“All you have to do is lose the trust of the public for impeachment, and that’s certainly happened,” Schultz said Wednesday.
Kendall was appointed as a judge in 2014. He has a court hearing scheduled for May 12.
