Senate Confirms Christen to the Ninth Circuit

Yesterday afternoon the Senate confirmed Morgan Christen to the United States Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals by a bipartisan vote of 95-3, with only Senators Jim DeMint, Rand Paul, and David Vitter voting no. Once sworn in, Christen will be the first Alaksan woman to serve on the Ninth Circuit.

President Obama nominated Christen to the seat on May 18, 2011; on September 8 she was reported out of the Senate Judiciary Committee by a unanimous voice vote. From the date of her nomination, Christen waited 212 days to be confirmed to the seat, which has been labeled a judicial emergency by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts.

The Senate’s action leaves 21 other judicial nominees waiting on the floor for their confirmation votes, 19 of whom were reported out of committee either unanimously or with strong bipartisan support.

For the most accurate, up-to-date information on the judicial selection process, visit AFJ's Judicial Selection page.