Aaron Peterson: nomination to Alaska‘s U.S. District Court
Aaron Peterson, a natural resources attorney, has been advanced by the Senate Judiciary Committee for a second time for a seat on the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska.The committee approved his nomination with a 14-9 bipartisan vote on January 16, 2026. Peterson was previously favorably reported to the full Senate in the prior Congress, but his nomination lapsed due to time constraints.
Currently serving as an assistant attorney general in the Natural Resources Section of the Alaska Department of Law’s Civil Division since 2019,Peterson previously held the position of statewide fish and wildlife prosecutor within the department’s Office of Special Prosecutions.
His potential confirmation comes at a critical time for the court, which frequently handles environmental and energy cases and currently operates with only one active judge following the resignation of a previous Trump appointee in October 2025 amid ethical concerns. The court’s caseload and limited judicial capacity underscore the importance of filling the vacant seat.
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