Earlier today the White House announced that President Obama has nominated Alaska Supreme Court Justice Morgan Christen to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Of note, Justice Christen was appointed to the Alaska Supreme Court by then-Governor Sarah Palin. In Alaska, a judicial council recommends potential judicial appointees for selection by the Governor, and Christen was one of two potential justice picks forwarded to then-Governor Palin in 2009.