Trump Nominates Ally To Court Overseeing Key Tariff Cases

President Donald Trump on Thursday nominated White House attorney Kara Westercamp to the U.S. Court of International Trade, a position that carries a lifetime appointment if she is confirmed by the Senate.

“Kara is a very experienced Trade Lawyer, who spent over a decade working as an Attorney at the Department of Justice, and is now one of the incredible lawyers defending our historic and popular America First Agenda as an Associate Counsel at the White House,” Trump posted on Truth Social. “Kara knows the wisdom and courage required to protect the American people who have been ripped off by other countries for far too long. She will always put America first.” 

If confirmed, Westercamp will join a court that oversees disputes involving tariffs and trade policy, a key focus of Trump’s economic agenda.

Westercamp currently serves as associate counsel to the president. Before joining the White House, she worked in the Justice Department’s Civil Division, where she argued dozens of cases before the Court of International Trade. She previously practiced law at Jones Day. 

The Court of International Trade has played a central role in adjudicating challenges to the administration’s use of executive authority to impose broad tariffs. One such ruling is currently under review by the Supreme Court after the Trump administration appealed. 

After the court struck down portions of his tariff program last year, Trump questioned the ruling on Truth Social.

“How is it possible for them to have potentially done such damage to the United States?” Trump asked. “Is it purely a hatred of ‘TRUMP’? What other reason could it be?”

The court consists of nine judges and is based in New York. It oversees nationwide civil disputes involving trade laws, including challenges and duty assessments by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Across his two terms, Trump has appointed more than 270 federal judges, including three Supreme Court justices. By comparison, President Barack Obama appointed 334 judges during his eight years in office.