Cedar Rapids native to serve as lifetime judge in US court

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) - The United States Senate on Tuesday confirmed a Cedar Rapids native and University of Iowa graduate to be a judge in a federal court.

Kara Marie Westercamp will serve a lifetime appointment on the United States Court of International Trade. The court of nine judges oversees cases involving international trade and customs law, including imports and tariffs.

President Donald Trump appointed Westercamp earlier this year. Her nomination then went to the Senate, where Senator Chuck Grassley introduced her. She was voted in 50-48 in the full Senate hearing Tuesday.

Westercamp worked with the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa. She litigated insurance recovery and financial disputes with a private practice.

She then moved into public service as a trial attorney defending federal agencies with the Department of Justice. She most recently worked with the Trump Administration in the White House Counsel’s Office.