President Donald Trump appears poised to nominate a natural resources attorney to a federal court in Alaska that has only had one active judge on staff since a former Interior Department lawyer last year resigned from the bench in disgrace.
While Trump has not formally tapped Aaron Peterson for a position on the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska, the Senate Judiciary Committee, which approves judicial nominations, said it has received questionnaire materials for him. The White House has recently started sending such materials to lawmakers before officially announcing nominations.
Alaska lawmakers said they plan to support Peterson’s nomination.
“Aaron Peterson has extensive legal experience spanning criminal prosecution, natural resources law, and national security,” said Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), in a statement. “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.”
