Sarah Palin made a surprising pick for the Alaska state Supreme Court: Sarah Palin defies conservative advice, names woman to Supreme Court.

The Alaska Family Council, a conservative group that opposes same-sex marriage and abortion, favored another Superior Court judge, Eric Smith of Palmer, saying he would be more inclined to resist activist judges on the five-member court. The council did not explain its opposition to Christen.

The 47-year-old Morgan Christen, who replaces a justice facing mandatory retirement at age 70, served on the board of Planned Parenthood in the 1990s before the group began performing abortions in 2003. As a career lawyer, Christen was also active for years in the Rotary Club, United Way and Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Alaska.

Palin, as she has at other times in her political career this decade, displayed an independent streak, disregarding the outside advice, and went with her own choice.