Trump nominates former Montana GOP counsel as federal judge
Micah Drew
Daily Montanan) President Donald Trump on Thursday announced the nomination of former Montana Deputy Solicitor General Katie Lane as a federal district court judge.
In a post on social media, Trump said Lane will bring “fantastic experience” to the role and highlighted her work in Montana, “a State I love and won big three times.”
Lane earned her law degree from George Mason University in 2017, according to her LinkedIn profile, and served in the Montana Attorney General’s office from 2021-2023 as deputy solicitor general, according to Attorney General Austin Knudsen.
“It is an honor to congratulate Katie on her nomination to serve as the next federal judge in Montana,” Knudsen said in a statement. “During her two years in my office as deputy solicitor general, Katie played an integral role in defending Montana’s laws and challenging the Biden administration’s unconstitutional mandates. President Trump could not have made a better pick as I am confident she will bring valuable experience and integrity to the bench and look forward to welcoming her back to the state.”
Lane most recently has served as senior legal counsel for the Republican National Committee in Washington D.C.
If confirmed by the U.S. Senate, Lane will take the place of U.S. District Judge Susan Watters, who holds court in Billings and announced last summer she would retire to senior status, with a limited workload, in June 2026.
Lane’s nomination is the second by Trump to the Montana District bench, following the confirmation of former Billings lawmaker William Mercer to a federal judgeship last fall.
Other Republican elected officials of Montana were quick to show support for Lane.
“Judicial appointments shape the direction of our courts for generations,” Brandon Ler, Montana Speaker of the House of Representatives, said in a statement. “Katie Lane’s nomination reflects a continued effort to ensure Montana’s courts are guided by the Constitution, not politics, and that the law is applied fairly and consistently.”
In a joint statement, U.S. Sens. Steve Daines and Tim Sheehy said that Lane’s experience “gives her the skills and perspectives to serve Montana.”
“We will work diligently with Senate leadership and our colleagues to confirm her nomination,” the senators said.