After serving stateside in the United States Marine Corps during the Vietnam War, Kennedy used a Fulbright Scholarship to earn a Juris Doctor from Georgetown University.
[2] He practiced law at his own firm in New Mexico for thirty-six years.
Kennedy first served as a judge when he was temporarily appointed by Governor Gary Johnson in 2002, to a seat on the state supreme court vacated by the retirement of Joseph F. Baca, until the election of a successor.
In 2012, Governor Martinez nominated Kennedy to the court again after he was unanimously selected by a non-partisan committee.
Kennedy ran as a Republican for reelection to the seed, but was defeated by Barbara J. Vigil.