Morgan Christen

Morgan Christen
Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Alaska
Incumbent
Assumed office April 5, 2009
Nominated by	Sarah Palin
Preceded by	Warren Matthews
Personal details
Born	December 5, 1961 (1961-12-05) (age 49) Chehalis, Washington, U.S.
Alma mater	University of Washington, Seattle Golden Gate University

Morgan Brenda Christen (born December 5, 1961) is an associate justice on the Alaska Supreme Court and a current federal judicial nominee to a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Christen was appointed to the Alaska high court on March 4, 2009 by Governor Sarah Palin to replace outgoing justice Warren Matthews.^[1] Christen was born in Chehalis, Washington and attended the University of Washington (BA 1983) and the Golden Gate University School of Law (JD 1986). She has been a resident of Anchorage, Alaska for 18 years.

Alaska state judicial service

Christen was one of two candidates recommended by the seven-member Alaska Judicial Council to replace Justice Warren Matthews on the Alaska Supreme Court.^[2] Christen was opposed by pro-life advocacy groups due to her service as a Planned Parenthood board member in the mid-1990s.^[1][2] Nonetheless, on March 4, 2009, Governor Sarah Palin selected Christen to fill the vacancy on the Alaska Supreme Court.^[2]

Nomination to Ninth Circuit

In July 2010, Christen confirmed that the Obama White House is considering her to fill the vacancy on the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit created when Judge Andrew Kleinfeld assumed senior status.^[3]

On May 18, 2011, Obama nominated Christen to the vacancy on the Ninth Circuit.^[4] On September 8, 2011, the Senate Judiciary Committee reported her nomination to the Senate floor by voice vote.

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Sutton, Anne (March 8, 2009). "Palin pick to be 2nd female on Alaska court". Juneau Empire. Associated Press. http://www.juneauempire.com/stories/030809/sta_406743982.shtml. Retrieved 2010-07-26. 
2. ^ ^{a b c} Demer, Lisa (March 4, 2009). "Palin bucks pressure in Supreme Court appointment". Anchorage Daily News. http://www.adn.com/2009/03/04/711378/palin-bucks-pressure-in-supreme.html. Retrieved 2010-07-26. 
3. ^ Levine, Dan (July 26, 2010). "New Names Emerge for 9th Circuit Seats". The Recorder. http://www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=1202463876409. Retrieved 2010-07-26. 
4. ^ http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/05/18/president-obama-nominates-justice-morgan-christen-united-states-court-ap

Legal offices
Preceded by Warren Matthews	Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Alaska 2009–present	Incumbent

Persondata
Name	Christen, Morgan
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	December 5, 1961
Place of birth	Chehalis, Washington
Date of death
Place of death