Katie Lane
Katie Lane is the Deputy Solicitor General of Montana.[1]
On February 12, 2026, President Donald Trump (R) announced his intent to nominate Katie Lane to the United States District Court for the District of Montana.[1] As of February 12, 2026, Lane was awaiting an official nomination from the president and a hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Click here for more information on Lane's federal judicial nomination.
The United States District Court for the District of Montana is one of 94 U.S. District Courts. They are the general trial courts of the United States federal courts. To learn more about the court, click here.
Judicial nominations and appointments
United States District Court for the District of Montana
- See also: Federal judges nominated by Donald Trump
On February 12, 2026, President Donald Trump (R) announced his intent to nominate Lane to the United States District Court for the District of Montana. To read more about the federal nominations process, click here.
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| Nominee Information |
| Name: Katie Lane |
| Court: United States District Court for the District of Montana |
| Progress |
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| QFRs: (Hover over QFRs to read more) |
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Nomination
On February 12, 2026, President Donald Trump (R) announced his intent to nominate Katie Lane to the United States District Court for the District of Montana. As of February 12, 2026, Lane was awaiting an official nomination from the president and a hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Click here for a list of other nominees who have been nominated by President Donald Trump.
About the court
| District of Montana |
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| Ninth Circuit |
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| Judgeships |
| Posts: 3 |
| Judges: 3 |
| Vacancies: 0 |
| Judges |
| Chief: Brian Morris |
| Active judges: Bill Mercer, Brian Morris, Susan Pamela Watters Senior judges: |
The District of Montana has original jurisdiction over cases filed within its jurisdiction. These cases can include civil and criminal matters that fall under federal law.
The court is located in Billings, Butte, Great Falls, Helena, and Missoula.
To read opinions published by this court, click Justia.com-Montana here.
The federal nomination process
Federal judges are nominated by the president of the United States and confirmed by the Senate. There are multiple steps to the process:
- The president nominates an individual for a judicial seat.
- The nominee fills out a questionnaire and is reviewed by the Senate Judiciary Committee.
- The Senate Judiciary Committee holds a hearing with the nominee, questioning them about things like their judicial philosophy, past rulings or opinions, etc.
- As part of this process, the committee sends a blue slip to senators from the home state in which the judicial nomination was received, allowing them to express their approval or disapproval of the nominee.
- After the hearing, the Senate Judiciary Committee will vote to approve or return the nominee.
- If approved, the nominee is voted on by the full Senate.
- If the Committee votes to return the nominee to the president, the president has the opportunity to re-nominate the individual.
- The Senate holds a vote on the candidate.
- If the Senate confirms the nomination, the nominee receives a commission to serve a lifelong position as a federal judge.
- If the Senate does not confirm the nomination, that nominee does not become a judge.
See also
- United States District Court for the District of Montana
- United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
External links
Footnotes
Federal courts:
Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: District of Montana • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: District of Montana
State courts:
Montana Supreme Court • Montana District Courts • Montana Courts of Limited Jurisdiction • Montana Water Court • Montana Workers' Compensation Court
State resources:
Courts in Montana • Montana judicial elections • Judicial selection in Montana
