On May 26, 2011, President Barack Obama nominated Kerrigan to serve as a Judge of the United States Tax Court, to the seat vacated by Judge Harry A. Haines, whose term had expired. Her nomination received a hearing before the United States Senate Committee on Finance on November 17, 2011, and was reported favorably on December 17, 2011. Her nomination was confirmed by the United States Senate on March 29, 2012. She received her commission on May 4, 2012. Her commission will expire on May 3, 2027, at which time her fifteen-year term will end.[2][3] On February 25, 2022, she was elected to serve a two-year term as chief judge starting on June 1, 2022.[4][5]