Kalispell attorney Dana Christensen has been confirmed by the U.S. Senate to replace U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy of Missoula.

Christensen, 60, has been a lawyer in a private practice for 35 years, 30 of those years in Kalispell. He said he was relieved to hear that he had been confirmed.

“I am very thankful to Senators Baucus and Tester for moving this through the Senate and getting a successful vote yesterday,” Christensen said Tuesday afternoon. “I’m looking forward to getting to work here in the next couple of weeks.”

President Barack Obama nominated Christensen in May, and with confirmation now obtained, Obama must sign his letters of commission and officially appoint him “hopefully in the next couple days,” Christensen said. After that, he can be sworn in and begin work.

Molloy and Christensen 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 took the judicial position after being appointed by President Bill Clinton in 1996.

“I’ve actually appeared many, many times in his court representing various clients,” Christensen said.

The coincidental nature of replacing his friend has not eluded Christensen.

“If you had asked both of us when we were classmates whether we would someday both be federal judges in the same courthouse down in Missoula, I don’t think either of us would have thought that to be possible,” he said.

Christensen said he and his wife will move to Missoula. 

“It’s a tremendous honor, and of course, when the president nominates you for something like this it’s an honor for your family as well,” Christensen said. “She’s pleased, she’s happy, and she’s excited to be part of this new adventure.”

Christensen has been a partner in the firm Christensen, Moore, Cockrell, Cummings & Axelberg since 1996 and previously was an associate and a shareholder at two other Montana law firms.