Morgan Christen

Morgan Brenda Christen (born December 5, 1961) is a United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Christen previously served on the Alaska Supreme Court having been appointed on March 4, 2009 by Governor Sarah Palin to replace outgoing justice Warren Matthews.[1] The United States Senate confirmed Christen on December 15, 2011 in a 95–3 vote. She received her commission on January 11, 2012.

Morgan Brenda Christen
Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
Assumed office
January 11, 2012
Appointed byBarack Obama
Preceded byAndrew Kleinfeld
Associate Justice of the Alaska Supreme Court
In office
April 5, 2009 – January 11, 2012
Appointed bySarah Palin
Preceded byWarren Matthews
Succeeded byPeter J. Maassen
Personal details
Born (1961-12-05) December 5, 1961
Chehalis, Washington
EducationUniversity of Washington (B.A.)
Golden Gate University School of Law (J.D.)

Early life and education

Christen was born in Chehalis, Washington and graduated from the University of Washington with a bachelor of arts degree in 1983 and the Golden Gate University School of Law with a juris doctor in 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 anti-abortion 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]

Federal judicial service
Christen as part of an all-women appellate panel of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit heard oral arguments March 8, 2018 at the William K. Nakamura U.S. Courthouse in Seattle; other panel members included fellow Circuit Judge Johnnie B. Rawlinson and Chief District Judge Nancy D. Freudenthal of the District Court for the District of Wyoming, sitting by designation.

In July 2010, Christen confirmed that the Obama White House was 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 seat on the Ninth Circuit vacated by Andrew Kleinfeld who assumed senior status on June 12, 2010.[3] On September 8, 2011, the Senate Judiciary Committee reported her nomination to the Senate floor by voice vote. The Senate confirmed Christen in a 95–3 vote on December 15, 2011.[4] She received her commission on January 11, 2012.[5]

Notable cases

On July 9, 2019, Christen ruled that Riley Briones Jr. could not be given a life without parole sentence because he was only 17 when he committed his crime, and the LWOP sentence was in violation of Miller v. Alabama.[6]

On November 19, 2019, Christen concurred when the court granted relief to Vega-Anguiano. Christen noted that Vega-Anguiano could not have known that he needed to bring the errors of the reinstatement order (of his removal) to the agency's attention, since his 1998 removal lacked a valid legal basis and the reinstatement order was improper. The majority opinion was written by William A. Fletcher. [7]

References
  1. Sutton, Anne (March 8, 2009). "Palin pick to be 2nd female on Alaska court". Juneau Empire. Associated Press. Retrieved 2010-07-26.
  2. Demer, Lisa (March 4, 2009). "Palin bucks pressure in Supreme Court appointment". Anchorage Daily News. Retrieved 2010-07-26.
  3. "President Obama Nominates Justice Morgan Christen for the United States Court of Appeals". White House Press Release. May 18, 2011.
  4. "U.S. Senate: U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 112th Congress - 1st Session".
  5. "Christen, Morgan - Federal Judicial Center". www.fjc.gov.
  6. http://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/opinions/2019/07/09/16-10150.pdf
  7. http://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/opinions/2019/11/19/15-72999.pdf
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
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