US EditionTrump nominates former Knudsen deputy Katie Lane as federal judge
If confirmed, Katie Lane will be one of two Trump appointees among Montana's three full-time federal judges, filling a vacancy created by a senior status transition.
- On Thursday, President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social he nominated Katie Lane to replace Judge Susan Watters on the U.S. District Court for the District of Montana.
- Previously, Lane served as deputy solicitor general under Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen from May 2021 to March 2023 and most recently worked as senior legal counsel for the Republican National Committee, handling election-related litigation.
- Supporters including Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen and U.S. Sens. Steve Daines and Tim Sheehy praised Lane’s credentials and said they would work on confirmation.
- If confirmed, two of three full-time federal district judges in the U.S. District Court for the District of Montana would be Trump appointees, following William Mercer’s confirmation last fall.
- Watters was appointed by President Barack Obama in 2013 and announced last summer she will move to senior status effective June 2026, creating the vacancy on the District of Montana bench.
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protrumpnews.com
Trump Announces Multiple Court Nominations
Donald Trump announced multiple court nominations on Thursday. Trump announced he would be nominating Katie Lane to serve on the United States District Court for the District of Montana. Trump pointed out, “Katie has also played a critical role in stopping Voter Fraud as Senior Counsel for Litigation at the Republican National Committee.” Truth Social: I am pleased to announce the nomination of Katie Lane to serve as Judge on the United States D…
Trump nominates former Knudsen deputy Katie Lane as federal judge
President Donald Trump has nominated his second new federal judge for Montana.Trump announced on Truth Social Thursday morning that he was nominating Katie Lane, to replace Judge Susan Watters.Katie is Highly Qualified and Respected, and will boldly defend our Constitution, Trump wrote. Congratulations Katie!Lane, formerly Katie Smithgall, was a deputy solicitor general under Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen from May 2021 to March 2023. S…
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