Aaron Peterson (Alaska)
Aaron Peterson is a senior assistant attorney general in the Alaska Department of Law for Natural Resources.[1][2]
On November 18, 2025, President Donald Trump (R) nominated Aaron Peterson to the United States District Court for the District of Alaska.[1][3] As of December 11, 2025, Peterson was awaiting a confirmation vote from the full U.S. Senate. Click here for more information on Peterson's federal judicial nomination.
The United States District Court for the District of Alaska is one of 94 U.S. District Courts. They are the general trial courts of the United States federal courts. To learn more about the court, click here.
Judicial nominations and appointments
United States District Court for the District of Alaska
- See also: Federal judges nominated by Donald Trump
On November 18, 2025, President Donald Trump (R) nominated Peterson to the United States District Court for the District of Alaska.[1] To read more about the federal nominations process, click here.
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| Nominee Information |
| Name: Aaron Peterson |
| Court: United States District Court for the District of Alaska |
| Progress |
| 51 days since nomination. |
 Nominated: November 18, 2025
|
| ABA Rating: No Rating
|
| Questionnaire: [N/A Questionnaire] |
| Hearing: November 19, 2025
|
| Hearing Transcript: Hearing Transcript |
| QFRs: (Hover over QFRs to read more) |
| Reported: December 11, 2025
|
 Confirmed:
|
Confirmation vote
As of December 11, 2025, Peterson was awaiting a confirmation vote from the full U.S. Senate. Click here for a list of other nominees awaiting a full Senate vote.
Senate Judiciary Committee hearing
The Senate Judiciary Committee held hearings on Peterson's nomination on November 19, 2025. He was reported to the full Senate on December 11, 2025, after a 14-8 committee vote.[4]
Nomination
On November 18, 2025, President Donald Trump (R) nominated Aaron Peterson to the United States District Court for the District of Alaska.[1]
The American Bar Association (ABA) rated Peterson no rating.[5] To read more about ABA ratings, click here.
About the court
The Western District of Arkansas has original jurisdiction over cases filed within its jurisdiction. These cases can include civil and criminal matters that fall under federal law.
There are six court divisions, each covering the following counties:
The El Dorado Division, covering Ashley, Bradley, Calhoun, Columbia, Ouachita and Union counties.
The Fayetteville Division, covering Benton, Madison and Washington counties.
The Fort Smith Division, covering Crawford, Franklin, Johnson, Logan, Polk, Scott and Sebastian counties.
The Harrison Division, covering Baxter, Boone, Carroll, Marion, Newton and Searcy counties.
The Hot Springs Division, covering Clark, Garland, Hot Spring, Montgomery and Pike counties.
The Texarkana Division, covering Hempstead, Howard, Lafayette, Little River, Miller, Nevada and Sevier counties.
To read opinions published by this court, click here.
The federal nomination process
Federal judges are nominated by the president of the United States and confirmed by the Senate. There are multiple steps to the process:
- The president nominates an individual for a judicial seat.
- The nominee fills out a questionnaire and is reviewed by the Senate Judiciary Committee.
- The Senate Judiciary Committee holds a hearing with the nominee, questioning them about things like their judicial philosophy, past rulings or opinions, etc.
- As part of this process, the committee sends a blue slip to senators from the home state in which the judicial nomination was received, allowing them to express their approval or disapproval of the nominee.
- After the hearing, the Senate Judiciary Committee will vote to approve or return the nominee.
- If approved, the nominee is voted on by the full Senate.
- If the Committee votes to return the nominee to the president, the president has the opportunity to re-nominate the individual.
- The Senate holds a vote on the candidate.
- If the Senate confirms the nomination, the nominee receives a commission to serve a lifelong position as a federal judge.
- If the Senate does not confirm the nomination, that nominee does not become a judge.
See also
- United States District Court for the District of Alaska
- United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 The White House, "Nominations Sent to the Senate," accessed November 18, 2025
- ↑ Truth Social, "Donald J. Trump," November 12, 2025
- ↑ Congress.Gov, "PN655-3 — 119th Congress (2025-2026) — Aaron Christian Peterson — The Judiciary," accessed November 18, 2025
- ↑ U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary, "RESULTS OF COMMITTEE EXECUTIVE BUSINESS MEETING," accessed December 11, 2025
- ↑ American Bar Association, "STANDING COMMITTEE ON THE FEDERAL JUDICIARY," accessed December 15, 2025
Federal courts:
Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: District of Alaska • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: District of Alaska
State courts:
Alaska Supreme Court • Alaska Court of Appeals • Alaska Superior Court • Alaska District Court
State resources:
Courts in Alaska • Alaska judicial elections • Judicial selection in Alaska
