Kara Marie Westercamp, of Virginia, to be United States District Judge for the District of South Carolina

Kara Marie Westercamp of Virginia has been nominated to serve as a United States District Judge for the District of South Carolina. District judges serve lifetime appointments and preside over federal civil and criminal cases within their districts. The nomination was received by the Senate on March 2, 2026, and is currently awaiting committee review and action.

Westercamp brings substantial legal experience to the nomination. She earned her undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Iowa and clerked for a federal judge on the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa. She worked in private practice at Jones Day handling litigation involving insurance recovery, securities regulation, and financial disputes. She later served as a trial attorney in the Justice Department's Civil Division, where she defended federal agencies in litigation. Most recently, she has worked in the White House Counsel's Office.

The nomination is in its early stages and has not yet been assigned to a Senate Judiciary Committee for review and hearing. No committee vote or full Senate vote has occurred. The confirmation process will proceed with committee consideration, a potential hearing, and ultimately a full Senate vote on whether to confirm her to the bench.

Kara Marie Westercamp is a legal professional from Virginia who has been nominated to serve as a United States District Judge for the District of South Carolina. Her nomination is part of a broader effort to fill vacancies within the federal judiciary, specifically targeting the district court level where the majority of federal litigation is resolved. As a nominee for an Article III judgeship, she is being considered for a lifetime appointment to the federal bench.

Westercamp's background and professional experience in Virginia have prepared her for this transition to the federal judiciary in South Carolina. Her career trajectory reflects the qualifications necessary to manage a federal docket, which includes presiding over civil and criminal cases involving federal law, constitutional issues, and disputes between citizens of different states.

The role of a United States District Judge is a cornerstone of the American legal system, serving as the primary trial court level for the federal government. Judges in this position are responsible for ensuring the fair administration of justice and upholding the rule of law. Westercamp's nomination represents a significant step in maintaining the operational capacity of the District of South Carolina, which currently faces vacancies that impact the court's ability to process its caseload efficiently.