Kyle Reardon, nominated to be a federal judge in Alaska, had a confirmation hearing this week in the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee.
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Reardon previously worked as an Army judge advocate and a federal prosecutor. He is now a federal magistrate judge in Anchorage, a position he’s held since 2021.
Sen. Lisa Murkowski introduced him at the hearing.
“In his current role, Mr. Reardon has handled more than 3,000 criminal and almost 500 civil matters,” she said. “He’s also been selected to serve on various Ninth Circuit committees. You know, this is this is an individual that is not only qualified for this position; he is ready to hit the ground running as a U.S. District Court judge.”
Reardon was among six nominees at the hearing Wednesday and senators focused their questions more on the others.
“Sitting here today, I realize that I have far surpassed what I thought was possible from a legal career when I applied to law school,” he said in his opening statement. “I am thankful that my skills and good fortune have allowed me to serve the people of this country and of my state.”
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Democratic senators pressed the nominees to say who won the 2020 presidential election, particularly the popular vote. To some senators, that’s the litmus test for a nominee’s independence from President Donald Trump. None of the judicial nominees would acknowledge that Joe Biden won, saying it would be inappropriate to weigh in on a matter of political controversy. Reardon said he agreed with that response.
The asked that he disclose all his memberships, professional and civic. His list included, among other things, two ski patrol organizations and an elementary school Parent-Teacher Association.
If confirmed by the full Senate, he would fill the final vacancy on Alaska’s U.S. District Court. The court is authorized to have three active judges but has had one or more vacancies since 2015.
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The committee didn’t announce when it will vote on the nominees.