As his global tariff regime hangs in the balance before the nation’s highest court, President Donald Trump has moved to reshape the judiciary that could soon be flooded with refund claims from corporate America.
On Thursday, Trump unveiled four judicial nominations — but one stood out for its timing and potential consequence. Kara Westercamp, currently associate counsel in the White House, has been nominated to the United States Court of International Trade, a specialized bench that adjudicates disputes arising under U.S. trade laws, including tariffs and customs duties.
The court has become ground zero in a legal clash over Trump’s sweeping import duties. If the Supreme Court of the United States ultimately strikes down the tariffs, the trade court would be tasked with handling a cascade of claims from companies seeking to recover billions in paid duties.
Westercamp, previously with the United States Department of Justice, has been closely involved in defending the administration’s trade agenda. Trump described her as an experienced trade lawyer who understands the “America First” policy framework that underpins the tariff push.
The trade court nomination comes at a pivotal juncture. A three-judge panel earlier blocked much of the tariff program, ruling that the president had exceeded his statutory authority. That decision was later affirmed by the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, setting the stage for Supreme Court review.
Meanwhile, corporate plaintiffs — including Costco Wholesale Corporation, Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, and Revlon — have filed a growing wave of suits before the trade court, challenging the tariffs and seeking refunds in anticipation of a potential high court rebuke.
If confirmed by the Republican-controlled Senate, Westercamp would assume a life-tenured position on the nine-member court — one that could soon sit at the crossroads of trade policy, executive authority and billions in contested duties.
The president also announced three additional nominations:
Katie Lane, a lawyer affiliated with the Republican National Committee, for a federal district court seat in Montana.
Sheria Clarke, a partner at Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough, for a judgeship in South Carolina.
Federal prosecutor Evan Rikhye for a 10-year term on the United States District Court for the District of the Virgin Islands.
But it is the trade court pick that carries the most immediate ripple effects. With the legality of Trump’s tariff strategy under intense judicial scrutiny, the bench that interprets trade law may soon help determine not only policy direction — but the financial aftermath of one of the most aggressive trade campaigns in modern U.S. history.
