She is the first African-American woman to serve as chief judge for the Northern District of Mississippi.

Prior to attending law school, she worked as an architect in the Washington, D.C., area.

After graduation, she worked at the law firm of Phelps Dunbar LLP for more than fourteen years.

in Jackson, Mississippi, where she handled a wide variety of commercial litigation matters before both federal and state courts.

[4] On August 1, 2013, her nomination was favorably reported out of committee by voice vote.