President Obama Nominates Two to Serve on the U.S. Court of Federal Claims

WASHINGTON, DC - Today, President Obama nominated Patricia E. Campbell-Smith and Elaine D. Kaplan to serve on the United States Court of Federal Claims.

These nominees have dedicated their careers to serving the public good, said President Obama. And in so doing, they have displayed an unyielding commitment to justice and integrity. I am confident that they will serve the American people well from the Court of Federal Claims, and I am honored to nominate them today.

Patricia E. Campbell-Smith:  Nominee for the United States Court of Federal Claims

Patricia E. Campbell-Smith has served as a Special Master with the United States Court of Federal Claims since 2005 and as Chief Special Master since 2011.  In that role, she presides over litigation pursuant to the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program.  Previously, Campbell-Smith served as a career law clerk for the Honorable Emily C. Hewitt of the United States Court of Federal Claims for seven years.  From 1993 to 1996 and again from 1997 to 1998, she worked at the law firm of Liskow Lewis in New Orleans, where she focused on environmental regulatory law, patent infringement litigation, and toxic tort litigation.  From 1996 to 1997, she served as a law clerk for the Honorable Sarah S. Vance, and from 1992 to 1993 she served as a law clerk for the Honorable Martin L.C. Feldman, both of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana.  Campbell-Smith received her J.D. with honors in 1992 from Tulane Law School and her B.S. with honors in 1987 from Duke University. 

Elaine D. Kaplan:  Nominee for the United States Court of Federal Claims

Elaine D. Kaplan serves as General Counsel of the United States Office of Personnel Management, a position she has held since 2009.  Previously, she was Senior Deputy General Counsel at the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) from 2004 to 2009 and Of Counsel at the law firm of Bernabei and Katz from 2003 to 2004.  In 1998, Kaplan was unanimously confirmed by the Senate to serve as the head of the United States Office of Special Counsel and successfully completed a five-year term in that position.  From 1984 to 1998, Kaplan worked at NTEU with increasing levels of responsibility.  She began her legal career as a staff attorney in the Solicitor’s Office of the United States Department of Labor.  Kaplan received her J.D. cum laude in 1979 from the Georgetown University Law Center and her B.A. in 1976 from the State University of New York at Binghamton.