Palin taps woman for Alaska Supreme Court

JUNEAU, Alaska, March 5 (UPI) -- Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has named the state's second female state Supreme Court justice, her office announced.

Palin, the 2008 U.S. Republican vice presidential nominee, tapped Anchorage Superior Court Judge Morgan Christen to fill the vacancy on the Alaska Supreme Court despite objections by a conservative Christian group, the Anchorage Daily News reported Thursday.

"Alaska's Supreme Court bears the awesome responsibility of ensuring that our court system administers justice in firm accordance with the principles laid down in our state Constitution," Palin said in a statement. "I have every confidence that Judge Christen has the experience, intellect, wisdom and character to be an outstanding Supreme Court justice."

Palin selected Christen from among the nominees sent to her by the seven-member Alaska Judicial Council, which is made up of lawyers, public members appointed by governors and state Supreme Court Chief Justice Dana Fabe, the newspaper reported.

The newspaper noted that the nomination was opposed by the head of the Alaska Family Council. The group said Christen would be "another activist on the Court." The Alaska Family Council suggested that the governor tap Palmer Superior Court Judge Eric Smith to fill the vacancy.