Brown was born in Portland, Oregon, in 1952,[3] and attended high school there at St. Mary's Academy where she graduated in 1970.

[4] She received a Bachelor of Science degree from Portland State University in 1975.

[3] Following law school in 1980, Brown entered private legal practice in Portland where she remained until 1992.

[3] In 1992, Brown became a judge on the Multnomah County District Court.

She had been nominated to the seat vacated by Malcolm F. Marsh who took senior status on April 16, 1998.