A judge from Utah’s 3rd District Court has stepped down following charges of unlawful sexual conduct and drug possession. William Kenneth Kendall, who had been on administrative leave during a criminal investigation, faced charges on April 2 relating to allegations of sexual abuse involving a woman at his residence and the provision of a “weed pen” to another woman.
The resignation was tendered just a day after the Speaker of the Utah House, Mike Schultz, indicated that lawmakers might initiate impeachment proceedings against Kendall should he refuse to resign. The 54-year-old judge, residing in Salt Lake County, is facing charges in the 3rd District Court that include forcible sexual abuse, a second-degree felony, and distribution or arranging to distribute a drug, a third-degree felony. Additionally, he has been charged with marijuana possession and possession of drug paraphernalia, which are class B misdemeanors.
Kendall submitted his resignation to Governor Spencer Cox and Chief Justice Matthew B. Durrant, stating, “I hereby tender my resignation as a judge of the 3rd District Court of Utah, effective immediately. It has been the greatest honor of my life to sit on the 3rd District Court.” He expressed that he would miss his tenure and collaboration with colleagues in serving Utah’s citizens.
The charges were brought forward by Davis County Attorney Troy Rawlings to prevent any conflict of interest with the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office. Kendall, who previously served as a deputy district attorney in Salt Lake County, is represented by attorney Greg Skordas. Skordas emphasized Kendall’s long-standing service of over 25 years to the people of Utah, noting his prior roles as a deputy district attorney, an assistant U.S. attorney, and a judge. He highlighted that Kendall had never before been implicated in professional misconduct and remains presumed innocent.
The accusations originate from an incident at Kendall’s home on February 21, where he allegedly consumed alcohol and provided tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) to at least one female present, according to court documents. One woman reported using Kendall’s “weed pen,” while another woman asserted that Kendall inappropriately touched her without consent during the evening.
Unified police executed a search warrant on Kendall’s home, seizing THC products and paraphernalia, as detailed in the charges. A spokesperson for Utah Courts confirmed that Kendall had not presided over any cases during the investigation and had been on unpaid administrative leave starting April 2.