400:, who asked Christensen to remain in office until a successor could be named. Although he had expressed his intentions to delay taking senior judge status in order to implement reform in the federal courts, in November 1970 at the announcement of his change of status, Christensen stated that he felt he could carry out reforms more effectively as a senior judge. Christensen took senior status on August 17, 1971. Even after his change of status, however, Christensen was involved with many large national cases including the giant IBM-Telex antitrust case of 1973. As of 1976 Christensen's rate of being affirmed on civil cases was 80 percent and on criminal cases 92 percent.
421:
the Provo/Salt Lake City area of Utah. The
American Inn met for the first time in February 1980 in Provo. With the success of the first American Inn of Court, a second was established in 1981 by University of Utah Students. In the fall 1983, Chief Justice Burger created a Committee of the Judicial Conference of the United States on the American Inns of Court. Christensen was named the chair, and remained in that position until July 1984, when he resigned due to the deteriorating health of his wife. He received the 1989 Chairman's Award for his contributions to the
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of Law (1973); and the
Federal Bar Association (1974). Other awards and honors include "Outstanding Service Award", International Academy of Trial Lawyers (1978); "Distinguished Jurist Award", Federal Bar Association (1989); "Chairman's award", American Inns of Court Foundation (1989); "President's Award", Brigham Young University (1989); The American Bar Association Medal (1990); and the Fulbright Award for Distinguished Service, George Washington University (1991). Christensen was survived by his three children, 14 grandchildren, and 23 great-grandchildren.
389:. Christensen was also notable, at least in Utah, for his work with providing those in indigent circumstances with legal counsel. In 1971 he attacked a Utah law which denied legal counsel to indigents charged with a misdemeanor that carried with it a six-month or less incarceration sentence. As early as 1965, Christensen had introduced a tax-supported plan by which indigents charged with federal crimes could receive legal aid.
385:
Christensen frequently warned against accepting lawlessness as an instrument of social change and insisted that "the
American Dream does live". Although Christensen became experienced in antitrust cases, the length of his service ensured that he would hear and judge cases ranging from two young men accused of illegally shooting ducks in a pond after sunset, to a murder case on
220:. Christensen was the first member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to be appointed in Utah. He authored six books, volumes of poetry, and many legal articles. One of Christensen's most significant contributions to the legal community was his establishment of the United States' first
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from 1950 to 1951 and received both the "Outstanding
Achievement Award" (1971) and the "Judge of the Year Award" (1977) from the Utah Bar as well. In addition, he was named an honorary member of the Society of the Bar and Gavel, University of Utah (1972); Order of the Coif, University of Utah College
420:
and Chief
Justice Burger, to experiment with the British Inns of Court system to try to create an American equivalent. A pilot program was tested at BYU, and in the fall of 1979 a draft for an Inn of Court was created. In 1980, Christensen was one of the founders of the first American Inn of Court in
355:
was to be granted citizenship. She was both deaf and blind and
Christensen offered to waive the repetition of the oath of citizenship, but Haviland requested to participate. Christensen made arrangements so that as he read the oath, a friend of Haviland's translated it into sign language and tapped
356:
it onto
Haviland's palm. Christensen was "touched" by the scene, and said later that he purposefully kept another case—this one involving an individual who was about to be deported—outside of his courtroom so that the soon-to-be-deported man would not have to witness new citizens being sworn in.
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in 1973. As a district judge he also served on several committees of the
Judicial conference of the United States. Some of his contributions as a committee member included drawing up new guidelines for judges in 1969 and producing a model courtroom design. At his numerous speaking engagements,
487:
published in 1993, "The
Abalone Shell" in 1996. In total, Christensen wrote over 200 court opinions. Eighty-five of these were reviewed on appeal with eighteen being reversed, seven affirmed with qualifications, and sixty affirmed without qualification.
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movement. The award was renamed in his honor that year and the A. Sherman
Christensen Award is presented yearly to a member of the American Inns of Court who demonstrates distinguished, exceptional, and significant leadership.
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In 1975, Christensen became an adjunct professor of law at the University of Utah. From 1975 to 1977 he was an adjunct professor at the J. Reuben Clark Law School at BYU, where he taught trial practice.
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287:) in Washington, D.C. in 1931, after which he joined his father's law firm in Provo and practiced with him as a trial lawyer from 1932 to 1942. Following the outbreak of
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Christensen received many awards and distinctions in both his practice as a trial lawyer and his time as a United States district judge. He was named president of the
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Teaching trial practice law, a growing conviction that students and new lawyers did not have enough training in trial practice, and the urging of Chief Justice
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275:). The chancellor was impressed with Christensen's work and offered him a scholarship to attend the university's law school. Christensen received a
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Christensen authored six books and many academic articles. Four of his six books are on legal topics, but Christensen also authored a history of
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240:, to A.H. and Jennie Snow Christensen. He was one of four children. Christensen's father was a successful attorney first in Manti and later in
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on May 27, 1954, and received his commission on May 28, 1954. Christensen was sworn in on June 26, 1954, and became the first member of the
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from 1942 to 1945, returning to private practice in Provo from 1945 to 1954. In 1939, Christensen ran unsuccessfully on the
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Preliminary Notes on Principles and Procedures of Superior Legal Advocacy: Where the Rules and Code Leave Off
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in 1970, after 16 years of work on the federal bench. His announcement was accepted by President
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Persons and Processes: An Anecdotal View of Federal Judicial Administration, 19554 to 1991
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and later as an assistant to the chancellor of the law school at National University (now
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Throughout his career, Christensen was involved in several antitrust cases including
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899:"Editorials: Time has Come for Federal Judge Willis W. Ritter to Step Down"
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in 1966, and two volumes of poetry. Christensen's academic works include
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The Hard Rich Soil: Some Recollections and Letters of A.H. Christensen
1103:
United States district court judges appointed by Dwight D. Eisenhower
323:
to be appointed to the federal bench in Utah. Christensen received a
212:(June 9, 1905 – August 13, 1996) was a trial attorney, author, and a
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Judges of the United States District Court for the District of Utah
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821:"Rampton Authorizes State Council to Coordinate Processing of Data"
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from 1923 to 1927, where he met his wife. He married Lois Bowen of
795:"Federal Judge Assails Utah Law Denying Legal Help to Indigents"
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spurred Christensen, along with J. Reuben Clark Law School Dean
237:
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Handbook of Trial Practices in the United States District Court
676:"Distinguished Record as Judge Compiled by Former Provo Man"
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List of United States federal judges by longevity of service
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Christensen continued to serve as a settlement judge in
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On May 12, 1954, Christensen was nominated by President
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on August 17, 1971. He was a visiting professor at the
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United States District Court for the District of Utah
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United States District Court for the District of Utah
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United States District Court for the District of Utah
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United States District Court for the District of Utah
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United States District Court for the District of Utah
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260:, Utah in 1927 and the couple had three children.
731:. Salt Lake City, Utah. 9 April 1964. p. 13.
931:. Salt Lake City, Utah. 12 July 1977. p. 28
315:created by 68 Stat. 8. He was confirmed by the
1078:George Washington University Law School alumni
267:where he worked first as a file clerk for the
743:"Defendants Sentenced in U.S. District Court"
467:published in 1985, an autobiography entitled
374:Utah Gas Pipeline Co. vs. El Paso Natural Gas
8:
1113:United States Navy personnel of World War II
702:"Most Unusual Naturalization Case Mentioned"
682:. Provo, Utah. 20 September 1973. p. 25
392:Christensen announced his intention to take
248:, A.H. Christensen's law partner and future
568:. Provo, Utah. 15 September 1972. p. 4
366:Pioneer Drive-in Theater vs. MGM and others
343:at Brigham Young University, also in 1975.
321:Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
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879:. Ogden, Utah. 5 November 1970. p. 16
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382:Gardiner and others vs. Gold Strike Stamps
59:August 17, 1971 – August 13, 1996
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925:"Lawyers Honor U.S. Judge, S.L. Attorney"
905:. Ogden, Utah. 18 January 1976. p. 4
853:. Provo, Utah. 6 November 1970. p. 7
232:Christensen was born on June 9, 1905, in
988:Biographical Directory of Federal Judges
775:. Ogden, Utah. 31 March 1966. p. 13
769:"Pair Held in Son's Death to Face Judge"
78:June 26, 1954 – August 17, 1971
801:. Ogden, Utab. 9 April 1971. p. 20
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329:George Washington University Law School
285:George Washington University Law School
189:George Washington University Law School
647:. Ogden, Utah. 9 April 1927. p. 8
542:. Salt Lake City, Utah. 16 August 1996
536:"Death: Judge A. Sherman Christensen"
360:Notable cases and judicial philosophy
7:
873:"Utah Bench: U.S. Judge Will Retire"
370:Fisher Baking vs. Continental Baking
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337:University of Utah College of Law
281:National University School of Law
1088:Brigham Young University faculty
1003:L. Tom Perry Special Collections
727:"Citizenship-Her Greatest Day".
378:United States vs. Beatrice Foods
29:
1083:Brigham Young University alumni
1026:Seat established by 68 Stat. 8
708:. Ogden, Utah. 13 January 1965
612:"Judge A. Sherman Christensen"
263:In 1927, Christensen moved to
101:Seat established by 68 Stat. 8
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1118:20th-century American lawyers
999:A. Sherman Christensen papers
351:In 1964, Norwegian immigrant
1108:20th-century American judges
291:, Christensen served in the
273:George Washington University
269:United States War Department
214:United States district judge
903:The Ogden Standard-Examiner
877:The Ogden Standard-Examiner
827:. Ogden, Utah. 21 July 1965
825:The Ogden Standard-Examiner
799:The Ogden Standard-Examiner
773:The Ogden Standard-Examiner
747:The Ogden Standard-Examiner
706:The Ogden Standard-Examiner
645:The Ogden Standard-Examiner
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1093:University of Utah faculty
983:Albert Sherman Christensen
749:. Ogden, Utah. 22 May 1963
341:J. Reuben Clark Law School
210:Albert Sherman Christensen
132:Albert Sherman Christensen
23:Albert Sherman Christensen
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847:"Federal Judge to Resign"
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1011:Brigham Young University
951:"A. Sherman Christensen"
303:Federal judicial service
254:Brigham Young University
1073:People from Manti, Utah
993:Federal Judicial Center
991:, a publication of the
465:A Story of the Mountain
252:. Christensen attended
610:Brinkerhoff, Allan T.
423:American Inns of Court
1007:Harold B. Lee Library
929:The Salt Lake Tribune
729:The Salt Lake Tribune
477:Law Briefs for Laymen
331:in 1968, and assumed
311:to a new seat on the
299:ticket for Congress.
250:United States Senator
222:American Inn of Court
562:"Myrtle Christensen"
430:Later life and death
339:in 1975, and at the
317:United States Senate
309:Dwight D. Eisenhower
228:Education and career
89:Dwight D. Eisenhower
475:published in 1969,
387:Hill Air Force Base
641:"Licenses Granted"
293:United States Navy
1123:Writers from Utah
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1045:Aldon J. Anderson
1042:Succeeded by
961:on March 16, 2016
246:Arthur V. Watkins
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277:Bachelor of Laws
265:Washington, D.C.
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160:(1996-08-13)
142:June 9, 1905
108:Succeeded by
100:
84:Appointed by
73:
54:
43:Senior Judge
1068:1996 deaths
1063:1905 births
96:Preceded by
1057:Categories
1039:1954–1971
965:August 22,
935:August 22,
909:August 22,
883:August 22,
857:August 17,
831:August 22,
805:August 22,
779:August 22,
753:August 22,
686:August 22,
651:August 22,
625:August 17,
572:August 22,
546:August 17,
504:References
297:Republican
179:Republican
138:1905-06-09
712:August 4,
483:in 1976,
479:in 1975,
463:entitled
376:in 1964,
368:in 1963,
224:in 1980.
185:Education
74:In office
55:In office
492:See also
455:Writings
347:Anecdote
985:at the
418:Rex Lee
216:of the
45:of the
442:Legacy
615:(PDF)
327:from
283:(now
279:from
242:Provo
234:Manti
193:LL.B.
165:Provo
145:Manti
967:2016
937:2016
911:2016
885:2016
859:2016
833:2016
807:2016
781:2016
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688:2016
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627:2016
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548:2016
372:and
238:Utah
197:J.D.
169:Utah
155:Died
149:Utah
128:Born
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