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title: "Morgan Christen | KnowJudges"
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# Morgan Christen

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit · U.S. Circuit Judge

## Profile

- Court: U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
- State: National federal courts
- Role: U.S. Circuit Judge
- Service status: active
- Last verified: 2026-07-25

## Summary

Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge.

## Biography

### Professional career

- Judge, Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, 2012-present
- Judge, Alaska Supreme Court, 2009-2012
- Justice, Alaska Supreme Court, 2009-2011
- Law clerk, Hon. Brian Shortell, Alaska Superior Court, 1986-1987
- Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit

### Education

- Golden Gate University-San Francisco — J.D. (1986)
- Bachelor of Arts degree in International Studies from the University of Washington in 1983 and later received her Juris Doctor from Golden Gate University School of Law in 1986.
- Stanford University — B.A.
- University of California-Berkeley — J.D.
- Christen has also studied abroad at institutions such as the American College of Switzerland and Nanjing University in China.

### Additional information

- On May 18, 2011, President Barack Obama nominated her to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, and she was confirmed by the Senate on December 15, 2011.
- Then appointed to the Alaska Supreme Court by Governor Sarah Palin in 2009, where she served until her nomination to the federal bench.
- presiding judge, 2005-2009
- Began her judicial career on the Alaska Superior Court, where she served from 2002 to 2009.
- Practitioner, 2008-2008
- Private practice, Anchorage, AK, 1987-2002
- Morgan Brenda Christen was born on December 5, 1961, in Chehalis, Washington.
- Date of birth: 1961-12-05
- Christen has authored approximately 40 opinions as a judge and has been involved in various significant cases during her tenure.
- Kent-Meridian High School
- Birth place: Chehalis, WA

## Before you appear

- Read the judge-specific standing order first when one is listed.
- Check the docket and case orders for requirements that supersede broader guidance.
- Confirm current remote-access and courtroom technology arrangements before the proceeding.

## Courtroom Rules

### appellate oral argument

Scope: courtwide

In federal courts of appeals, oral argument is allowed unless a three-judge panel unanimously finds one of Rule 34's specified grounds for dispensing with it; the clerk provides the date, time, place, and time allocation.

Evidence excerpt: Oral argument must be allowed in every case unless a panel of three judges who have examined the briefs and record unanimously agrees that oral argument is unnecessary

[Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 34, Oral Argument](https://www.uscourts.gov/forms-rules/current-rules-practice-procedure/federal-rules-appellate-procedure)
Source checked: 2026-07-26


## Sources

- [Official profile](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1393881)
- [Official roster](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1393881)
- [Federal Judicial Center biography](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1393881)
- [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/613/morgan-christen/)
- [Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 34, Oral Argument](https://www.uscourts.gov/forms-rules/current-rules-practice-procedure/federal-rules-appellate-procedure)
- [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/613/morgan-christen/)
- [Wikidata: Morgan Christen](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6911601)

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