Kalispell attorney takes oath as federal judge
<p>U.S. District Judge Dana Christensen is helped into his robe by his son, Ben, and daughter, Cassidy, after he took his oath of office Wednesday at the Russell Smith Federal Courthouse in Missoula. Christensen was nominated for the federal judgeship after Judge Donald Molloy announced his retirement last year.</p>
MISSOULA — Kalispell attorney Dana Christensen has taken the oath of office to become Montana’s newest federal judge.
Christensen replaced Judge Donald Molloy.
Born and raised in Missoula, Christensen, 60, moved to the Flathead Valley in 1981 and became a partner at the law firm of Christensen, Moore, Cockrell, Cummings & Axelberg P.C. in 1996, focusing on civil defense litigation.
He previously was an associate and a shareholder at two other Montana law firms.
He graduated from Stanford University in 1973 and received his law degree from the UM School of Law in 1976.
Christensen and Molloy have known each other for many years, ever since they were classmates at the University of Montana School of Law in the mid-1970s.
Molloy, who will continue to serve while on senior status, told Christensen during the ceremony Wednesday that a federal judgeship represents an enormous responsibility of upholding the rule of law.
U.S. Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., who nominated Christensen for the judge position, was on hand at Wednesday’s ceremony at the Russell Smith Federal Courthouse in downtown Missoula.
The Senate confirmed Christensen for the U.S. District Court in Missoula in December.