Morgan Brenda Christen (born December 5, 1961) is an American lawyer and jurist who serves as a U.S. circuit judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. She previously served as a state court judge on the Alaska Supreme Court from 2009 to 2012 and on the Alaska Superior Court from 2002 to 2009.[3]
Morgan Christen | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit | |
| Assumed office January 11, 2012 | |
| Appointed by | Barack Obama |
| Preceded by | Andrew Kleinfeld |
| Associate Justice of the Alaska Supreme Court | |
| In office April 5, 2009 – January 11, 2012 | |
| Appointed by | Sarah Palin |
| Preceded by | Warren Matthews |
| Succeeded by | Peter J. Maassen |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Morgan Brenda Christen or Brenda June Christen[1] December 5, 1961 Chehalis, Washington, U.S. |
| Spouse | James Torgerson[2] |
| Children | Erin Christen[2] |
| Education | University of Washington (BA) Golden Gate University (JD) |
Early life, education, and legal career
editChristen was born in 1961 in Chehalis, Washington.[4] She graduated from the University of Washington in 1983 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in international studies. She then attended the Golden Gate University School of Law, graduating with a Juris Doctor in 1986.[1]
After graduating from law school, Christen was a law clerk to Alaska Superior Court judge Brian Shortell from 1986 to 1987. From 1987 to 2002, she was in private practice at the law firm Preston Gates & Ellis, becoming a partner in 1993.[1]
Judicial career
editAlaska state judicial service
editChristen was a judge on the Alaska Superior Court from 2002 to 2009. In 2009, she was one of two candidates recommended by the seven-member Alaska Judicial Council to replace Justice Warren Matthews on the Alaska Supreme Court.[5] Christen was opposed by anti-abortion advocacy groups due to her service as a Planned Parenthood board member in the mid-1990s.[3][5] Nonetheless, on March 4, 2009, Governor Sarah Palin selected Christen to fill the vacancy on the Alaska Supreme Court.[5]
Federal judicial service
editOn May 18, 2011, President Barack Obama nominated Christen to the seat on the Ninth Circuit vacated by Andrew Kleinfeld, who assumed senior status on June 12, 2010.[6] On September 8, 2011, the Senate Judiciary Committee reported her nomination out of committee by a voice vote. The Senate confirmed Christen by a 95–3 vote on December 15, 2011.[7] She received her commission on January 11, 2012[8] and maintains her chambers in Anchorage.[9]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary Questionnaire for Judicial Nominees
- ^ a b "Judge Morgan Christen Welcomed to Ninth Circuit". ca9.uscourts.gov. United States Courts for the Ninth Circuit. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
- ^ a b Sutton, Anne (March 8, 2009). "Palin pick to be 2nd female on Alaska court". Juneau Empire. Associated Press. Retrieved 2010-07-26.
- ^ Williams, Carol J. "After 202-day delay, Senate confirms judge for appeals-court seat". The Seattle Times. The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
- ^ a b c Demer, Lisa (March 4, 2009). "Palin bucks pressure in Supreme Court appointment". Anchorage Daily News. Retrieved 2010-07-26.
- ^ "President Obama Nominates Justice Morgan Christen for the United States Court of Appeals". White House Press Release. May 18, 2011.
- ^ "On the Nomination (Confirmation Morgan Christen, of Alaska, to be U.S. Circuit Judge)".
- ^ Morgan Christen at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
- ^ "The Judges of this Court in Order of Seniority". www.ca9.uscourts.gov. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
External links
edit- Morgan Christen at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
- Morgan Christen at Ballotpedia