Morgan Christen
Encyclopedia
Morgan Brenda Christen 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
. 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.
on the Alaska Supreme Court
. Christen was opposed by pro-life advocacy groups due to her service as a Planned Parenthood
board member in the mid-1990s. Nonetheless, on March 4, 2009, Governor Sarah Palin
selected Christen to fill the vacancy on the Alaska Supreme Court.
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
.
On May 18, 2011, Obama nominated Christen to the vacancy on the Ninth Circuit. On September 8, 2011, the Senate Judiciary Committee
reported her nomination to the Senate floor by voice vote.
Alaska Supreme Court
The Alaska Supreme Court is the state supreme court in the State of Alaska's judicial department . The supreme court is composed of the chief justice and four associate justices, who are all appointed by the governor of Alaska and face judicial retention elections and who choose one of their own...
and a current federal judicial nominee to a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit is a U.S. federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the district courts in the following districts:* District of Alaska* District of Arizona...
. Christen was appointed to the Alaska high court on March 4, 2009 by Governor Sarah Palin
Sarah Palin
Sarah Louise Palin is an American politician, commentator and author. As the Republican Party nominee for Vice President in the 2008 presidential election, she was the first Alaskan on the national ticket of a major party and first Republican woman nominated for the vice-presidency.She was...
to replace outgoing justice Warren Matthews
Warren Matthews
Warren W. Matthews, Jr. is a retired jurist, who served as the 8th and 12th Chief Justice of the Alaska Supreme Court. His service as a justice of that court from May 1977 to April 2009 makes him the second-longest serving justice in Alaska history, slightly less than that of Jay Rabinowitz.Born...
. Christen was born in Chehalis, Washington
Chehalis, Washington
Chehalis is a city in Lewis County, Washington, United States. The population was 7,259 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Lewis County.-History:...
and attended the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
(BA
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
1983) and the Golden Gate University School of Law
Golden Gate University School of Law
Golden Gate University School of Law is one of the professional graduate schools of Golden Gate University. Located in downtown San Francisco, California, GGU is a California non-profit corporation and is fully accredited by the American Bar Association...
(JD
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
1986). She has been a resident of Anchorage, Alaska
Anchorage, Alaska
Anchorage is a unified home rule municipality in the southcentral part of the U.S. state of Alaska. It is the northernmost major city in the United States...
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 MatthewsWarren Matthews
Warren W. Matthews, Jr. is a retired jurist, who served as the 8th and 12th Chief Justice of the Alaska Supreme Court. His service as a justice of that court from May 1977 to April 2009 makes him the second-longest serving justice in Alaska history, slightly less than that of Jay Rabinowitz.Born...
on the Alaska Supreme Court
Alaska Supreme Court
The Alaska Supreme Court is the state supreme court in the State of Alaska's judicial department . The supreme court is composed of the chief justice and four associate justices, who are all appointed by the governor of Alaska and face judicial retention elections and who choose one of their own...
. Christen was opposed by pro-life advocacy groups due to her service as a Planned Parenthood
Planned Parenthood
Planned Parenthood Federation of America , commonly shortened to Planned Parenthood, is the U.S. affiliate of the International Planned Parenthood Federation and one of its larger members. PPFA is a non-profit organization providing reproductive health and maternal and child health services. The...
board member in the mid-1990s. Nonetheless, on March 4, 2009, Governor Sarah Palin
Sarah Palin
Sarah Louise Palin is an American politician, commentator and author. As the Republican Party nominee for Vice President in the 2008 presidential election, she was the first Alaskan on the national ticket of a major party and first Republican woman nominated for the vice-presidency.She was...
selected Christen to fill the vacancy on the Alaska Supreme Court.
Nomination to Ninth Circuit
In July 2010, Christen confirmed that the Obama White HousePresidency of Barack Obama
The Presidency of Barack Obama began at noon EST on January 20, 2009 when he became the 44th President of the United States. Obama was a United States Senator from Illinois at the time of his victory over Arizona Senator John McCain in the 2008 presidential election...
is considering her to fill the vacancy on the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit is a U.S. federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the district courts in the following districts:* District of Alaska* District of Arizona...
created when Judge Andrew Kleinfeld assumed senior status
Senior status
Senior status is a form of semi-retirement for United States federal judges, and judges in some state court systems. After federal judges have reached a certain combination of age and years of service on the federal courts, they are allowed to assume senior status...
.
On May 18, 2011, Obama nominated Christen to the vacancy on the Ninth Circuit. On September 8, 2011, the Senate Judiciary Committee
United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary
The United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary is a standing committee of the United States Senate, of the United States Congress. The Judiciary Committee, with 18 members, is charged with conducting hearings prior to the Senate votes on confirmation of federal judges nominated by the...
reported her nomination to the Senate floor by voice vote.