The Honorable Katherine E. Oler

Katherine Ellsworth Oler was nominated by President Joseph R. Biden Jr. to be an Associate Judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia on January 11, 2024. Her nomination was confirmed by the United States Senate on June 18, 2024.

Judge Oler was born in Washington, D.C. and was raised in Sandwich, Massachusetts. She graduated from Wellesley College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Political Science. While at Wellesley, she was awarded first-year distinction for academic excellence. She completed an English department honors thesis and received academic and departmental honors upon graduation. Judge Oler was awarded her law degree from the Boston University School of Law.

Upon graduation from law school, Judge Oler served as an active-duty Judge Advocate General (JAG) with the United States Air Force. Her JAG duty took her to various locations in the United States, the Middle East, Panama, Germany, and Korea. During her time on active duty, Judge Oler primarily worked in criminal litigation, holding positions as a first-chair felony prosecutor, defense attorney, and trial judge. She graduated from the Army’s 51st Military Judges Course as the top graduate. Her final position on active duty was as the Air Force’s Chief Prosecutor and Chief Government Appellate Counsel. Judge Oler served in the Air Force for 21 years, retiring as a colonel (O-6).

Judge Oler was appointed as a Special Master of the United States Court of Federal Claims on November 29, 2017. As a Special Master, she functioned as a trial judge and presided over cases brought pursuant to the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act. She served as a special master until her appointment to the bench.

Throughout her time in the Air Force and as a special master, Judge Oler remained actively involved in her community. She served as the Chair of the ABA’s Standing Committee on Legal Assistance for Military Personnel (LAMP), where she worked to promote the delivery of free or affordable legal services to military personnel and their family members. Judge Oler has also served as a faculty member in various trial advocacy programs, to include Harvard Law School’s Trial Advocacy Workshop, the National Institute for Trial Advocacy’s D.C. program, and the Washington Council of Lawyers trial advocacy training.

Judge Oler is admitted to practice law in both Florida and the District of Columbia. She is also admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court, the United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces, and the United States Court of Federal Claims.