Circuit Judge
9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals
Alaska - Anchorage
Law clerk, Alaska Superior Court, 1986-7; private practice, Anchorage, AK, 1987-2002, Alaska Superior Court Judge, 2002-5; Alaska Superior Court Presiding Judge, 2005-9; Alaska Supreme Court, 2009-11; nominated to 9th US Circuit, May 2011, confirmed December 2011.
Golden Gate University School of Law, J.D., 1986
Judicial Profiles
| Title | Court | Published |
|---|---|---|
| Morgan Brenda Christen | 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals (Anchorage, Alaska) | May 16, 2013 |
Rulings
| Case | Category | Published |
|---|---|---|
|
Wildearth Guardians v. U.S. Dept. of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Wildlife Services
author
|
Environmental Law | Apr. 21, 2025 |
|
Regino v. Staley
author
|
Constitutional Law | Apr. 4, 2025 |
|
Roe v. Critchfield
author
|
Constitutional Law | Mar. 20, 2025 |
|
Project Veritas v. Schmidt
author
|
Constitutional Law | Jan. 7, 2025 |
|
U.S. v. DeFrance
concurring
|
Criminal Law and Procedure | Dec. 30, 2024 |
|
Waidla v. Davis
concurring
|
Habeas Corpus | Dec. 23, 2024 |
|
U.S. v. Patterson
concurring
|
Criminal Law and Procedure | Oct. 1, 2024 |
|
Corbett v. Transportation Security Administration
author
|
Civil Procedure | Sep. 10, 2024 |
|
In re: Lovering Tubbs Trust v. Hoffman
author
|
Bankruptcy | Sep. 9, 2024 |
|
Doe v. Horne
author
|
Civil Rights | Sep. 9, 2024 |
|
Montera v. Premier Nutrition Corp.
author
|
Consumer Law | Aug. 6, 2024 |
|
Sridej v. Blinken
author
|
International Law | Jul. 23, 2024 |
|
Gonzales & Gonzales Bonds & Insurance Agency Inc. v. U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security
dissenting
|
Administrative Agencies | Jul. 18, 2024 |
|
Smith v. Garland
author
|
Immigration | Jun. 3, 2024 |
|
Bafford v. Administrative Committee of the Northrop Grumman Pension Plan
author
|
Employment Law | May 9, 2024 |
|
Lewis v. Andes
author
|
Prisoners' Rights | Mar. 12, 2024 |
|
U.S. v. Orozco-Orozco
author
|
Immigration | Mar. 12, 2024 |
|
Amended Opinion: U.S. v. Alahmedalabdaloklah
author
|
Criminal Law and Procedure | Feb. 28, 2024 |
|
Sabbe v. Washington County Board of Commissioners
author
|
Civil Rights | Oct. 18, 2023 |
|
Smith v. Agdeppa
dissenting
|
Immunity | Aug. 30, 2023 |
|
U.S. v. Taylor
author
|
Criminal Law and Procedure | Aug. 25, 2023 |
|
Hecox v. Little
dissenting
|
Constitutional Law | Aug. 17, 2023 |
|
Nacarino v. Kashi Co.
author
|
Consumer Law | Aug. 14, 2023 |
|
U.S. v. Alahmedalabdaloklah
author
|
Criminal Law and Procedure | Aug. 9, 2023 |
|
Doe I v. Cisco Systems, Inc.
dissenting
|
International Law | Jul. 7, 2023 |
|
Project Veritas v. Schmidt
dissenting
|
Constitutional Law | Jul. 5, 2023 |
|
Amended Opinion: U.S. v. Orozco-Barron
dissenting
|
Criminal Law and Procedure | Jul. 3, 2023 |
|
Dickey v. Davis
author
|
Criminal Law and Procedure | May 31, 2023 |
|
Duke v. Gastelo
author
|
Criminal Law and Procedure | Apr. 5, 2023 |
|
Katie Van v. LLR, Inc., et al
concurring
|
Civil Procedure | Mar. 13, 2023 |
|
Smith v. Agdeppa
author
|
Qualified Immunity | Dec. 30, 2022 |
|
Amended Opinion: Hoyos v. Davis
author
|
Criminal Law and Procedure | Oct. 17, 2022 |
|
Amended Opinion: 350 Montana v. Haaland
author
|
Environmental Law | Oct. 14, 2022 |
|
Patsalis v. Shinn
dissenting
|
Constitutional Law | Sep. 6, 2022 |
|
Hoyos v. Davis
author
|
Criminal Law and Procedure | Sep. 2, 2022 |
|
Fellowship of Christian Athletes v. San Jose Unified School District Board of Education
dissenting
|
Constitutional Law | Aug. 29, 2022 |
|
U.S. v. Willy
dissenting
|
Criminal Law and Procedure | Jul. 26, 2022 |
|
Ross Dress for Less, Inc. v. Makarios-Oregon, LLC
author
|
Civil Procedure | Jul. 8, 2022 |
|
Seidner v. De Vries
concurring
|
Qualified Immunity | Jun. 30, 2022 |
|
U.S. v. Begay
author
|
Criminal Law and Procedure | May 6, 2022 |
|
Stewart v. Aranas
concurring
|
Prisoners' Rights | May 5, 2022 |
|
U.S. v. House
concurring
|
Criminal Law and Procedure | Apr. 18, 2022 |
|
350 Montana v. Haaland
author
|
Environmental Law | Apr. 5, 2022 |
|
U.S. v. Ponce
author
|
Criminal Law and Procedure | Jan. 12, 2022 |
|
Fried v. Wynn Las Vegas
author
|
Employment Discrimination | Nov. 19, 2021 |
|
Fordley v. Lizarraga
author
|
Prisoners' Rights | Nov. 11, 2021 |
|
U.S. v. Prasad
concurring
|
Criminal Law and Procedure | Nov. 9, 2021 |
|
Mudpie Inc. v. Travelers Casualty Insurance Company of America
author
|
Insurance | Oct. 4, 2021 |
|
CLMS Management Services v. Amwins Brokerage of Georgia
author
|
Arbitration | Aug. 13, 2021 |
|
Maie v. Garland
author
|
Immigration | Aug. 3, 2021 |
|
Mauia v. Petrochem Insulation
author
|
Labor Law | Jul. 21, 2021 |
|
Lil' Man in the Boat v. City & Cnty. of San Francisco
author
|
Civil Rights | Jul. 16, 2021 |
|
Gonzalez v. Google
author
|
Cyber Law | Jun. 23, 2021 |
|
Kalispel Tribe of Indians v. U.S. Dept. of the Interior
author
|
Native American Affairs | Jun. 2, 2021 |
|
Kennedy v. Bremerton School District
concurring
|
Civil Rights | Mar. 19, 2021 |
|
Transportation Division of the Intl. Assoc. - SMART v. Federal Railroad Administration
concurring
|
Administrative Agencies | Feb. 24, 2021 |
|
Whitaker v. Tesla Motors
author
|
Civil Procedure | Jan. 26, 2021 |
|
Scalia v. State of Alaska
dissenting
|
statutory_interpretation | Jan. 19, 2021 |
|
U.S. v. Bruce
author
|
Criminal Law and Procedure | Jan. 13, 2021 |
|
Amended Opinion: Smith v. Baker
author
|
Criminal Law and Procedure | Dec. 22, 2020 |
|
Urbina v. National Business Factors
author
|
statutory_interpretation | Nov. 6, 2020 |
|
Grigsby v. BofI Holding
author
|
Securities | Nov. 4, 2020 |
|
Ramos v. Wolf
dissenting
|
Administrative Agencies | Sep. 15, 2020 |
|
Diaz-Reynoso v. Barr
author
|
Immigration | Aug. 10, 2020 |
|
CitiMortgage v. Corte Madera Homeowners Association
author
|
Real Property | Jun. 22, 2020 |
|
Smith v. Baker
author
|
Criminal Law and Procedure | May 22, 2020 |
|
In re Optical Disk Drive Products Antitrust Litigation
author
|
Attorneys | May 18, 2020 |
|
Mitchell v. U.S.
concurring
|
Evidence | May 1, 2020 |
|
In re Point Center Financial Inc.
dissenting
|
Bankruptcy | Apr. 30, 2020 |
|
McAdory v. DNF Associates
author
|
Consumer Law | Mar. 10, 2020 |
|
Rizo v. Yovino
author
|
Employment Discrimination | Feb. 28, 2020 |
|
Bearchild v. Cobban
author
|
Criminal Law and Procedure | Jan. 17, 2020 |
|
Willis v. City of Seattle
dissenting
|
Civil Procedure | Dec. 2, 2019 |
|
Pit River Tribe v. Bureau of Land Management
author
|
statutory_interpretation | Sep. 20, 2019 |
|
The Koala v. Khosla
author
|
Constitutional Law | Jul. 25, 2019 |
|
U.S. v. Briones
author
|
Juveniles | Jul. 10, 2019 |
|
Hoffmann v. Pulido
author
|
Criminal Law and Procedure | Jul. 9, 2019 |
|
Edge v. City of Everett
author
|
Constitutional Law | Jul. 5, 2019 |
|
Parker Drilling Management Services, Ltd. v. Newton
vacated and remanded
|
Labor Law | Jun. 11, 2019 |
|
Franks Landing Indian Community v. National Indian Gaming Commission
author
|
Native American Affairs | Mar. 13, 2019 |
|
U.S. v. Door
author
|
Criminal Law and Procedure | Mar. 13, 2019 |
|
Miller v. Inslee
author
|
Constitutional Law | Feb. 27, 2019 |
|
American Beverage Association v. City and County of San Francisco
concurring
|
Constitutional Law | Feb. 1, 2019 |
|
Frost v. BNSF
author
|
Labor Law | Jan. 31, 2019 |
|
Independent Living Center v. Kent
concurring
|
Civil Procedure | Nov. 26, 2018 |
|
Fikre v. FBI
author
|
Constitutional Law | Sep. 21, 2018 |
|
U.S. v. Fomichev
author
|
Evidence | Aug. 9, 2018 |
|
U.S. v. Obendorf
author
|
Criminal Law and Procedure | Jul. 10, 2018 |
|
Fuqua v. Ryan
author
|
Prisoners' Rights | May 21, 2018 |
|
Varjabedian v. Emulex
concurring
|
Securities | Apr. 23, 2018 |
|
Amended Opinion: TDY Holdings LLC v. United States
author
|
Environmental Law | Mar. 21, 2018 |
|
Thompson v. Copeland
dissenting
|
Qualified Immunity | Mar. 14, 2018 |
|
U.S. v. Aguilar Diaz
author
|
Criminal Law and Procedure | Mar. 12, 2018 |
|
Amended Opinion: TDY Holdings LLC v. United States
author
|
Environmental Law | Mar. 8, 2018 |
|
Newton v. Parker Drilling Management Services
author
|
Labor Law | Feb. 6, 2018 |
|
Duggan v. CIR
author
|
Tax | Jan. 16, 2018 |
|
U.S. v. Diaz
author
|
Evidence | Dec. 7, 2017 |
|
Eichenberger v. ESPN Inc.
concurring
|
Civil Procedure | Nov. 30, 2017 |
|
United States v. Molinar
concurring
|
Criminal Law and Procedure | Nov. 30, 2017 |
|
Aspen Skiing Company v. Cherrett (In re Cherrett)
author
|
Bankruptcy | Oct. 17, 2017 |
|
Sanders v. Cullen
author
|
Prisoners' Rights | Oct. 16, 2017 |
|
TDY Holdings LLC v. United States
author
|
Environmental Law | Oct. 5, 2017 |
|
U.S. v. Doe
author
|
Criminal Law and Procedure | Sep. 13, 2017 |
|
King v. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois
author
|
Health Care | Sep. 11, 2017 |
|
Sanchez v. Sessions
concurring
|
Immigration | Aug. 31, 2017 |
|
Lehman v. Nelson
author
|
Civil Procedure | Jul. 17, 2017 |
|
Snyder & Associates Acquisitions LLC v. United States
author
|
Administrative Agencies | Jun. 19, 2017 |
| Title | Court | Published |
|---|---|---|
| Morgan Brenda Christen | 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals (Anchorage, Alaska) | May 16, 2013 |
| Case | Category | Published |
|---|---|---|
|
Wildearth Guardians v. U.S. Dept. of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Wildlife Services
author
|
Environmental Law | Apr. 21, 2025 |
|
Regino v. Staley
author
|
Constitutional Law | Apr. 4, 2025 |
|
Roe v. Critchfield
author
|
Constitutional Law | Mar. 20, 2025 |
|
Project Veritas v. Schmidt
author
|
Constitutional Law | Jan. 7, 2025 |
|
U.S. v. DeFrance
concurring
|
Criminal Law and Procedure | Dec. 30, 2024 |
|
Waidla v. Davis
concurring
|
Habeas Corpus | Dec. 23, 2024 |
|
U.S. v. Patterson
concurring
|
Criminal Law and Procedure | Oct. 1, 2024 |
|
Corbett v. Transportation Security Administration
author
|
Civil Procedure | Sep. 10, 2024 |
|
In re: Lovering Tubbs Trust v. Hoffman
author
|
Bankruptcy | Sep. 9, 2024 |
|
Doe v. Horne
author
|
Civil Rights | Sep. 9, 2024 |
|
Montera v. Premier Nutrition Corp.
author
|
Consumer Law | Aug. 6, 2024 |
|
Sridej v. Blinken
author
|
International Law | Jul. 23, 2024 |
|
Gonzales & Gonzales Bonds & Insurance Agency Inc. v. U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security
dissenting
|
Administrative Agencies | Jul. 18, 2024 |
|
Smith v. Garland
author
|
Immigration | Jun. 3, 2024 |
|
Bafford v. Administrative Committee of the Northrop Grumman Pension Plan
author
|
Employment Law | May 9, 2024 |
|
Lewis v. Andes
author
|
Prisoners' Rights | Mar. 12, 2024 |
|
U.S. v. Orozco-Orozco
author
|
Immigration | Mar. 12, 2024 |
|
Amended Opinion: U.S. v. Alahmedalabdaloklah
author
|
Criminal Law and Procedure | Feb. 28, 2024 |
|
Sabbe v. Washington County Board of Commissioners
author
|
Civil Rights | Oct. 18, 2023 |
|
Smith v. Agdeppa
dissenting
|
Immunity | Aug. 30, 2023 |
|
U.S. v. Taylor
author
|
Criminal Law and Procedure | Aug. 25, 2023 |
|
Hecox v. Little
dissenting
|
Constitutional Law | Aug. 17, 2023 |
|
Nacarino v. Kashi Co.
author
|
Consumer Law | Aug. 14, 2023 |
|
U.S. v. Alahmedalabdaloklah
author
|
Criminal Law and Procedure | Aug. 9, 2023 |
|
Doe I v. Cisco Systems, Inc.
dissenting
|
International Law | Jul. 7, 2023 |
|
Project Veritas v. Schmidt
dissenting
|
Constitutional Law | Jul. 5, 2023 |
|
Amended Opinion: U.S. v. Orozco-Barron
dissenting
|
Criminal Law and Procedure | Jul. 3, 2023 |
|
Dickey v. Davis
author
|
Criminal Law and Procedure | May 31, 2023 |
|
Duke v. Gastelo
author
|
Criminal Law and Procedure | Apr. 5, 2023 |
|
Katie Van v. LLR, Inc., et al
concurring
|
Civil Procedure | Mar. 13, 2023 |
|
Smith v. Agdeppa
author
|
Qualified Immunity | Dec. 30, 2022 |
|
Amended Opinion: Hoyos v. Davis
author
|
Criminal Law and Procedure | Oct. 17, 2022 |
|
Amended Opinion: 350 Montana v. Haaland
author
|
Environmental Law | Oct. 14, 2022 |
|
Patsalis v. Shinn
dissenting
|
Constitutional Law | Sep. 6, 2022 |
|
Hoyos v. Davis
author
|
Criminal Law and Procedure | Sep. 2, 2022 |
|
Fellowship of Christian Athletes v. San Jose Unified School District Board of Education
dissenting
|
Constitutional Law | Aug. 29, 2022 |
|
U.S. v. Willy
dissenting
|
Criminal Law and Procedure | Jul. 26, 2022 |
|
Ross Dress for Less, Inc. v. Makarios-Oregon, LLC
author
|
Civil Procedure | Jul. 8, 2022 |
|
Seidner v. De Vries
concurring
|
Qualified Immunity | Jun. 30, 2022 |
|
U.S. v. Begay
author
|
Criminal Law and Procedure | May 6, 2022 |
|
Stewart v. Aranas
concurring
|
Prisoners' Rights | May 5, 2022 |
|
U.S. v. House
concurring
|
Criminal Law and Procedure | Apr. 18, 2022 |
|
350 Montana v. Haaland
author
|
Environmental Law | Apr. 5, 2022 |
|
U.S. v. Ponce
author
|
Criminal Law and Procedure | Jan. 12, 2022 |
|
Fried v. Wynn Las Vegas
author
|
Employment Discrimination | Nov. 19, 2021 |
|
Fordley v. Lizarraga
author
|
Prisoners' Rights | Nov. 11, 2021 |
|
U.S. v. Prasad
concurring
|
Criminal Law and Procedure | Nov. 9, 2021 |
|
Mudpie Inc. v. Travelers Casualty Insurance Company of America
author
|
Insurance | Oct. 4, 2021 |
|
CLMS Management Services v. Amwins Brokerage of Georgia
author
|
Arbitration | Aug. 13, 2021 |
|
Maie v. Garland
author
|
Immigration | Aug. 3, 2021 |
|
Mauia v. Petrochem Insulation
author
|
Labor Law | Jul. 21, 2021 |
|
Lil' Man in the Boat v. City & Cnty. of San Francisco
author
|
Civil Rights | Jul. 16, 2021 |
|
Gonzalez v. Google
author
|
Cyber Law | Jun. 23, 2021 |
|
Kalispel Tribe of Indians v. U.S. Dept. of the Interior
author
|
Native American Affairs | Jun. 2, 2021 |
|
Kennedy v. Bremerton School District
concurring
|
Civil Rights | Mar. 19, 2021 |
|
Transportation Division of the Intl. Assoc. - SMART v. Federal Railroad Administration
concurring
|
Administrative Agencies | Feb. 24, 2021 |
|
Whitaker v. Tesla Motors
author
|
Civil Procedure | Jan. 26, 2021 |
|
Scalia v. State of Alaska
dissenting
|
statutory_interpretation | Jan. 19, 2021 |
|
U.S. v. Bruce
author
|
Criminal Law and Procedure | Jan. 13, 2021 |
|
Amended Opinion: Smith v. Baker
author
|
Criminal Law and Procedure | Dec. 22, 2020 |
|
Urbina v. National Business Factors
author
|
statutory_interpretation | Nov. 6, 2020 |
|
Grigsby v. BofI Holding
author
|
Securities | Nov. 4, 2020 |
|
Ramos v. Wolf
dissenting
|
Administrative Agencies | Sep. 15, 2020 |
|
Diaz-Reynoso v. Barr
author
|
Immigration | Aug. 10, 2020 |
|
CitiMortgage v. Corte Madera Homeowners Association
author
|
Real Property | Jun. 22, 2020 |
|
Smith v. Baker
author
|
Criminal Law and Procedure | May 22, 2020 |
|
In re Optical Disk Drive Products Antitrust Litigation
author
|
Attorneys | May 18, 2020 |
|
Mitchell v. U.S.
concurring
|
Evidence | May 1, 2020 |
|
In re Point Center Financial Inc.
dissenting
|
Bankruptcy | Apr. 30, 2020 |
|
McAdory v. DNF Associates
author
|
Consumer Law | Mar. 10, 2020 |
|
Rizo v. Yovino
author
|
Employment Discrimination | Feb. 28, 2020 |
|
Bearchild v. Cobban
author
|
Criminal Law and Procedure | Jan. 17, 2020 |
|
Willis v. City of Seattle
dissenting
|
Civil Procedure | Dec. 2, 2019 |
|
Pit River Tribe v. Bureau of Land Management
author
|
statutory_interpretation | Sep. 20, 2019 |
|
The Koala v. Khosla
author
|
Constitutional Law | Jul. 25, 2019 |
|
U.S. v. Briones
author
|
Juveniles | Jul. 10, 2019 |
|
Hoffmann v. Pulido
author
|
Criminal Law and Procedure | Jul. 9, 2019 |
|
Edge v. City of Everett
author
|
Constitutional Law | Jul. 5, 2019 |
|
Parker Drilling Management Services, Ltd. v. Newton
vacated and remanded
|
Labor Law | Jun. 11, 2019 |
|
Franks Landing Indian Community v. National Indian Gaming Commission
author
|
Native American Affairs | Mar. 13, 2019 |
|
U.S. v. Door
author
|
Criminal Law and Procedure | Mar. 13, 2019 |
|
Miller v. Inslee
author
|
Constitutional Law | Feb. 27, 2019 |
|
American Beverage Association v. City and County of San Francisco
concurring
|
Constitutional Law | Feb. 1, 2019 |
|
Frost v. BNSF
author
|
Labor Law | Jan. 31, 2019 |
|
Independent Living Center v. Kent
concurring
|
Civil Procedure | Nov. 26, 2018 |
|
Fikre v. FBI
author
|
Constitutional Law | Sep. 21, 2018 |
|
U.S. v. Fomichev
author
|
Evidence | Aug. 9, 2018 |
|
U.S. v. Obendorf
author
|
Criminal Law and Procedure | Jul. 10, 2018 |
|
Fuqua v. Ryan
author
|
Prisoners' Rights | May 21, 2018 |
|
Varjabedian v. Emulex
concurring
|
Securities | Apr. 23, 2018 |
|
Amended Opinion: TDY Holdings LLC v. United States
author
|
Environmental Law | Mar. 21, 2018 |
|
Thompson v. Copeland
dissenting
|
Qualified Immunity | Mar. 14, 2018 |
|
U.S. v. Aguilar Diaz
author
|
Criminal Law and Procedure | Mar. 12, 2018 |
|
Amended Opinion: TDY Holdings LLC v. United States
author
|
Environmental Law | Mar. 8, 2018 |
|
Newton v. Parker Drilling Management Services
author
|
Labor Law | Feb. 6, 2018 |
|
Duggan v. CIR
author
|
Tax | Jan. 16, 2018 |
|
U.S. v. Diaz
author
|
Evidence | Dec. 7, 2017 |
|
Eichenberger v. ESPN Inc.
concurring
|
Civil Procedure | Nov. 30, 2017 |
|
United States v. Molinar
concurring
|
Criminal Law and Procedure | Nov. 30, 2017 |
|
Aspen Skiing Company v. Cherrett (In re Cherrett)
author
|
Bankruptcy | Oct. 17, 2017 |
|
Sanders v. Cullen
author
|
Prisoners' Rights | Oct. 16, 2017 |
|
TDY Holdings LLC v. United States
author
|
Environmental Law | Oct. 5, 2017 |
|
U.S. v. Doe
author
|
Criminal Law and Procedure | Sep. 13, 2017 |
|
King v. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois
author
|
Health Care | Sep. 11, 2017 |
|
Sanchez v. Sessions
concurring
|
Immigration | Aug. 31, 2017 |
|
Lehman v. Nelson
author
|
Civil Procedure | Jul. 17, 2017 |
|
Snyder & Associates Acquisitions LLC v. United States
author
|
Administrative Agencies | Jun. 19, 2017 |