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Cedar Rapids native confirmed to lifetime federal judgeship

U.S. Senate votes 50-48 to seat Kara Marie Westercamp on the Court of International Trade

By Jordan BeckPublished Jul 22, 2026, 2:35 PM CT1 min read
TheCRPulseCITY HALLCedar Rapids native confirmedto lifetime federal judgeship#cedar rapids #federal judge

The U.S. Senate confirmed Cedar Rapids native Kara Marie Westercamp on July 21, 2026, by a 50-48 vote to serve as a judge on the United States Court of International Trade.

Westercamp, a 2009 University of Iowa College of Law graduate, will hold the lifetime appointment filling the vacancy left by Stephen A. Vaden.

President Donald Trump nominated her on March 2, 2026. The Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing March 25 and reported the nomination favorably April 30. Cloture passed 49-48 on July 16.

Senator Chuck Grassley welcomed the Westercamps of Cedar Rapids to the committee hearing. After the final vote he posted, “Congrats 2 Cedar Rapids native & UIowa alum Kara Westercamp for her confirmation 2b US Court of International Trade Judge IOWA is proud of u.”

The confirmation marks the first recent appointment of an Iowan to the specialized trade court, according to Senate records at congress.gov and the roll-call vote.

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Sources

  1. 1.PN851-8 - Nomination of Kara Marie Westercamp — Library of Congress / Congress.gov
  2. 2.Roll Call Vote 119th Congress - 2nd Session - Vote 201 — U.S. Senate
  3. 3.Nominations Hearing March 25, 2026 — Senate Judiciary Committee
  4. 4.Grassley tweet on confirmation — Senator Chuck Grassley / X
  5. 5.Cedar Rapids native to serve as lifetime judge in US court — KCRG
  6. 6.Cedar Rapids native to serve as lifetime judge in US court - KCRG — Google News — Cedar Rapids & Linn County

This story was researched and drafted with AI assistance and reviewed by a human editor before publication. Read our Editorial Standards & AI Disclosure. Spot an error? Request a correction.

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