Katie Lane was confirmed 52–46 to a lifetime seat on the U.S. District Court for the District of Montana despite receiving a rare "not qualified" rating from the American Bar Association. The ABA cited Lane’s limited experience — about nine years of practice, under eight years of trial-court work, and no experience as lead trial counsel — as the basis for its assessment. Democrats called the nomination unfit for a lifetime judgeship, while supporters, including Sen. Steve Daines, highlighted her public-service record and Montana roots. The confirmation reflects a broader partisan pattern of advancing nominees despite negative ABA evaluations.
Senate Confirms Katie Lane to Montana Federal Bench Despite Rare ABA 'Not Qualified' Rating
Senate Confirms Trump Court Pick Rated ‘Not Qualified’ To Be A Federal Judge
Senate Republicans on Tuesday confirmed Katie Lane to a lifetime seat on the U.S. District Court for the District of Montana by a 52–46 party-line vote, advancing the 34-year-old lawyer despite a rare "not qualified" assessment from the American Bar Association (ABA).
The ABA's unfavorable rating centered entirely on Lane’s limited professional experience. The association said Lane has practiced law for roughly nine years — below its 12-year guideline for federal trial judges — has fewer than eight years of trial-court experience, fewer than seven years as a litigator, and has never served as lead counsel in a civil or criminal trial.
"The experience that is acquired by a practicing lawyer over time — in terms of years and courtroom and trial experience — prepares him or her for the tremendous responsibility of presiding over a courtroom...and garners public confidence and respect in the legal community," Pamela Roberts, chair of the ABA Standing Committee on the Federal Judiciary, wrote in an April letter to Senate Judiciary Committee leaders.
The ABA said its review included outreach to nearly 200 judges and legal professionals who provided feedback on Lane’s qualifications. Historically, the ABA has rarely assigned a "not qualified" rating: none of President Barack Obama’s or President Joe Biden’s judicial nominees received that rating, and the designation was uncommon under earlier administrations. In President Trump’s first term, 10 of 234 nominees were rated "not qualified," and Republicans nonetheless secured confirmations for eight of them.
Lane’s resume includes a recent role as senior legal counsel at the Republican National Committee, a stint as deputy solicitor general under Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen, and prior work as an associate at Consovoy McCarthy PLLC in Virginia.
President Donald Trump's judicial nominee Katie Lane earned a rare and embarrassing "not qualified" rating from the American Bar Association. Republicans confirmed her to a lifetime federal judgeship anyway.Senate Judiciary Committee
Democrats vigorously criticized the nomination. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), the top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, called Lane "the least qualified judicial nominee" of President Trump’s second term and argued that Montana — with more than 3,000 licensed attorneys — offered many other candidates with deeper experience.
Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.), who recommended Lane to the White House, defended her on the Senate floor without addressing the ABA's rating. Daines praised Lane’s record on issues such as gun rights and energy and said her values are "rooted in Montana and grounded in the Constitution."
At her Judiciary Committee hearing, Democrats pressed Lane on politically charged topics, including the outcome of the 2020 presidential election and the events of Jan. 6, 2021. Lane declined to give direct political characterizations, saying she would not comment in a way that might implicate issues or parties that could appear before her as a judge and noting her condemnation of all violence, including on Jan. 6.
Lane’s confirmation underscores ongoing partisan divisions over judicial standards and the weight given to independent evaluations like the ABA’s. The White House did not respond to requests for comment about the ABA rating or Lane’s confirmation.
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