Joseph P. Kennedy

Joseph P. Kennedy is a distinguished civil rights attorney and founding partner of the Kennedy Law Firm in Albuquerque, New Mexico. With a legal career spanning over three decades, he has built a reputation for advocating on behalf of individuals subjected to police misconduct, unlawful arrests, and due process violations. His work has led to significant policy reforms protecting vulnerable communities’ rights.

Kennedy earned his Juris Doctor from Temple University School of Law in 1985, where he was a member of the Temple Law Review. He was admitted to the New Mexico Bar in 1990 and has since dedicated his practice to holding government institutions accountable for civil rights violations.

Kennedy has delivered high-impact legal results in major civil rights and police misconduct cases. In Betts v. City of Albuquerque, he won a $250,000 jury verdict and forced critical reforms to the Albuquerque Police Department’s use-of-force policies, specifically involving police dog deployments. In Lowery v. City of Albuquerque, he led a class action lawsuit challenging the city’s unlawful evictions based on unproven drug contamination claims. The case uncovered widespread due process violations and secured meaningful relief and justice for more than 150 residents wrongfully displaced from their homes.

Kennedy also represented David Eckert in a nationally recognized case involving unconstitutional medical searches. The legal team obtained a $1.6 million settlement, highlighting systemic abuses within law enforcement. Nicholas Kristof highlighted his insights on economic disparities in civil rights violations in a New York Times op-ed.

In recognition of his career achievements, Joseph P. Kennedy received the Leonard Weinglass In Defense of Civil Liberties Award from the American Association for Justice in 2014. He has also been selected for Super Lawyers and Best Lawyers in America for his excellence in civil rights law.

With a commitment to justice and systemic change, Kennedy continues to advocate for individuals whose rights have been violated, using litigation as a tool for policy reform and community protection.

Law Office Affiliations

• Partner, Kennedy Law Firm
  

Licensed State

• New Mexico

Education

• Temple University School of Law, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
  Juris Doctor (J.D.)

Awards & Badges