Trump’s nominee to Montana’s federal bench — unqualified and unready

By: Doug James

Outlets: Daily Montanan

Published: February 24, 2026

Words: 845

Last Updated: 2 weeks, 3 days ago

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President Donald Trump wants to put Katie Lane, a Virginia attorney, on the United States District Court for the District of Montana.

Let’s skip the polite fiction. She is not qualified.

This isn’t about ideology. I practiced before conservative judges for decades. I respected them because they were prepared, disciplined, and deeply experienced. They understood judging because they first mastered trying cases.

That is the point. The U.S. District Court is not a debating club …

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