Article Summary –
President Biden has nominated Danna Jackson, a lawyer for the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, to succeed Judge Dana Christensen in Montana’s U.S. District Court. Jackson, who could become the state’s first Native American federal judge, worked in the U.S. Department of the Interior as a lawyer from 2021 to 2023 and served as chief legal counsel to the Montana Department of Natural Resources from 2016 to 2021. While Democratic U.S. Senator Jon Tester praised the nomination, Republican Senator Steve Daines expressed disappointment that the president did not seriously consult with him regarding the nomination.
President Biden Nominates Native American Attorney for Federal Judgeship in Montana
President Joe Biden has nominated Danna Jackson, an attorney for the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, to succeed Judge Dana Christensen in the U.S. District Court of Montana. If confirmed, Jackson would be the first Native American federal judge in the state.
Former U.S. attorney Jackson served as the chief legal counsel to the Montana Department of Natural Resources from 2016 to 2021 and was a part of the U.S. Department of the Interior from 2021 to 2023. Jackson, who was raised on the Flathead Indian Reservation, has dedicated most of her career to tribal law and natural resource issues.
Judge Christensen, appointed by then-President Barack Obama in 2011, announced in 2022 his move to senior status, a semi-retirement form for judges.
Senators Respond to Jackson’s Nomination
Democratic U.S. Senator Jon Tester appreciated Jackson’s nomination, praising her for applying the law with fairness and integrity throughout her legal career. He expressed confidence that Jackson would bring high standards to the federal judiciary and District of Montana.
Republican U.S. Senator Steve Daines did not directly critique Jackson, but expressed disappointment that Biden did not consult with him sufficiently on the nomination.
Senators typically receive the opportunity to weigh in on federal judge nominations from their state through “blue slips”. The Senate Judiciary Committee usually considers the home-state senators’ position when deciding to recommend confirmation to the full Senate.
The length of the confirmation period and the result of the November election may provide Tester’s Republican opponent, Tim Sheehy, an opportunity to vote on the nomination.
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