Career
Born in Moody County, South Dakota, Christianson went to school in Austin, Minnesota and Jasper, Minnesota. He went to Highland Park College and hen received his law degree from University of Chicago Law School in 1920. Christianson was assistant county attorney for Goodhue County, Minnesota and Red Wing, Minnesota city attorney.
Christianson served on the Minnesota Supreme Court for a brief time in 1946.
In 1948 and 1949, Christianson was one of the judges of the Nuremberg Military Tribunals. In 1949, Christianson was appointed a Minnesota District Court judge and served until his retirement in 1963.
Christianson died in Red Wing, Minnesota.