ANCHORAGE, Alaska—
The U.S. Senate has confirmed an Alaska Supreme Court justice to fill a vacancy on the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.Senators voted 95-3 Thursday to confirm the nomination of Morgan Christen, who becomes the first Alaska woman to serve on the 9th Circuit.
U.S. Democratic Sen. Mark Begich of Alaska recommended Christen to President Obama for the opening created by the retirement last year of Judge Andrew Kleinfeld of Fairbanks.
Christen also had the support of Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska.
Christen served seven years as a Superior Court judge and was appointed to the state Supreme Court in 2009 by then-Gov. Sarah Palin.
Before Thursday's vote, Begich called Christen "one of the greatest legal minds and one of the most caring individuals Alaska has to offer."
