President Donald Trump has nominated White House lawyer Kara Westercamp to the U.S. Court of International Trade, positioning a close administration ally for a seat on a specialist court central to ongoing litigation over his global tariff programme. The nomination comes as companies pursue refunds in cases that could hinge on the court’s future composition.
Westercamp, currently an associate counsel in the White House and previously a Justice Department lawyer, was described by Trump as a “very experienced Trade Lawyer” who has defended his “America First Agenda”. If confirmed by the Republican-led Senate, she would assume a life-tenured role on the nine-member court, which hears cases arising under U.S. trade laws, including disputes over tariffs collected by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Her prospective appointment follows a wave of lawsuits filed by hundreds of companies, including Costco, Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company and Revlon, challenging the legality of Trump’s sweeping tariffs and seeking refunds. In May, a three-judge panel of the trade court blocked most of the tariffs, ruling that the president overstepped his authority. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit upheld that decision in August, and the matter is now under review by the U.S. Supreme Court.
Trump criticised the initial ruling at the time, questioning the origins of the judges and calling the decision political. The nomination underscores the strategic importance of the trade court as litigation over tariff authority continues.
The president also announced nominations for judicial vacancies in Montana, South Carolina and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Katie Lane, a lawyer at the Republican National Committee, was tapped for a district court seat in Montana. Sheria Clarke, a partner at Nelson Mullins, was nominated in South Carolina, and federal prosecutor Evan Rikhye was selected for a 10-year term on the District Court for the Virgin Islands.
