SC Alaska News

U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) has expressed support for President Donald Trump’s intention to nominate Aaron Christian Peterson as a judge on the United States District Court for the District of Alaska.

“I congratulate Aaron Peterson on being nominated to serve on the federal bench for the District of Alaska. I also want to thank President Trump and his team for working closely with my office and putting forward this outstanding nominee today,” said Sen. Sullivan. “Aaron has extensive legal experience spanning criminal prosecution, natural resources law, and national security. Throughout his career, which includes military service, Aaron has demonstrated a commitment to the rule of law and federalism. He also understands the principle that the job of a federal judge is to interpret the law, not to make policy. I’d like to thank each of the members of the Alaska Federal Judiciary Council, who worked with me to fully vet a number of well-qualified Alaska nominees, including Aaron. The council’s diligent work and input were invaluable in ensuring Alaskans are represented by jurists and citizens of the highest caliber.”

Senator Sullivan established the Alaska Federal Judiciary Council (AFJC) in 2023 to help identify candidates for federal judicial vacancies in Alaska. The council reviewed applications and recommended individuals such as Peterson for consideration by Senator Sullivan, who then forwarded their names to the White House.

Peterson is from Eagle River, Alaska, and is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force. He currently works as senior assistant attorney general in the Natural Resources Section at Alaska’s Department of Law (DOL), where he focuses on fisheries litigation involving state interests. His previous roles include serving as assistant attorney general in DOL’s Office of Special Prosecutions from 2015 to 2019—where he prosecuted fish and wildlife crimes statewide—and as an assistant district attorney in Anchorage from 2012 to 2015 handling various criminal cases.

He began his legal career clerking for Judge Michael Spaan at Alaska Superior Court between 2010 and 2011. Peterson holds an undergraduate degree from University of Alaska Anchorage and earned his Juris Doctor at Gonzaga University School of Law.