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Morgan Christen
Morgan Christen
Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
	Incumbent
	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; December 5, 1961 (age 62); Chehalis, Washington, U.S.
Spouse	James Torgerson
Children	Erin Christen
Education	University of Washington (BA); Golden Gate University (JD)

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]

Early life, education, and legal career

Christen 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

Alaska state judicial service

Christen 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

On 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]

References

^ ^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

Morgan Christen at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
Morgan Christen at Ballotpedia

Legal offices
Preceded by Warren Matthews	Associate Justice of the Alaska Supreme Court 2009–2012	Succeeded by Peter J. Maassen
Preceded by Andrew Kleinfeld	Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit 2012–present	Incumbent