Hendricks was born Bruce McCaw Howe in 1957 in Charleston, South Carolina.

She received a Juris Doctor in 1990 from the University of South Carolina School of Law.

As part of her duties, she presided over the first drug court program in the District of South Carolina.

[6] On May 22, 2014, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid filed for cloture on the nomination.

On June 3, 2014, the United States Senate invoked cloture on her nomination by a 59–35 vote.