Aaron Peterson has been confirmed by the U.S. Senate as Alaska’s newest federal judge, ending one of the state’s longest-standing judicial vacancies. The confirmation vote concluded at 58–39, with six Democrats joining the majority of Republicans, and three senators not voting. Notably, Sen. Dick Durbin, the top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, supported the confirmation, signaling bipartisan confidence in Peterson’s qualifications. Peterson will leave his role as Alaska’s natural resources attorney in the Department of Law to assume his new judicial duties, helping to stabilize a federal court system that has been severely stretched due to long-term vacancies and staff shortages.
Alaska’s federal judiciary has been operating with only one full-time judge for nearly three years after Judge Joshua Kindred resigned in 2024 and Judge Tim Burgess retired at the end of 2021. In the interim, visiting judges and senior-status judges from other states have filled the gap, slowing case processing and creating a backlog. Peterson’s confirmation restores critical capacity and leadership to the court and addresses one of the oldest federal judicial vacancies in the U.S.
Born in Anchorage in 1981, Peterson served in the U.S. Air Force from 2000 to 2003 before earning his undergraduate degree from the University of Alaska Anchorage in 2007 and a law degree from Gonzaga University School of Law in 2010. He clerked for Judge Michael Spaan of the Anchorage Superior Court, then served as a prosecutor in Anchorage, handling cases ranging from misdemeanors to complex criminal matters. Peterson later joined the Office of Special Prosecutions and eventually the Department of Law’s natural resources section, gaining experience in regulatory, civil, and criminal matters critical to Alaska’s legal landscape.
The nomination process was somewhat unconventional. Senator Dan Sullivan led a committee to review Peterson’s application and forwarded it to former President Donald Trump for nomination, bypassing the usual Alaska Bar Association recommendations. Senator Lisa Murkowski also supported the nomination, citing the need to relieve pressure on Alaska’s overburdened federal courts. During confirmation, Peterson carefully avoided expressing opinions on politically sensitive topics like the 2020 election or January 6 events to maintain judicial impartiality.
With Peterson on the bench, Alaska now has two of its three federal judgeships filled. His experience in criminal law, civil law, and natural resources law is expected to help reduce case backlogs, improve efficiency, and restore stability and morale in the federal court system. His confirmation also demonstrates the value of bipartisan cooperation in judicial appointments, as several Democrats crossed party lines to vote in favor.
Beyond immediate court operations, Peterson’s appointment addresses broader concerns within Alaska’s judiciary, including administrative strain, staff morale, and the need for consistent, timely adjudication. His Alaskan roots and wide-ranging legal expertise make him well-positioned to handle the state’s complex mix of federal and state jurisdictional issues, environmental regulations, and resource management disputes.
