Dillon received an Artium Baccalaureus degree, magna cum laude, in 1983 from Lenoir–Rhyne University.

From 2003 to 2014, she had been a shareholder at Guynn, Memmer & Dillon, PC, where she handled both trial and appellate matters in federal and state courts.

[5] On December 13, 2014 Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid filed a motion to invoke cloture on the nomination.

On May 4, 2018, Dillon found 61 year old Theresa 'Red' Terry in contempt of court for protesting the pipeline while on her own land, threatening a $1000/day fine and use of U.S.

The land has been in Terry's family for 7 generations [6] On May 16, 2018, Dillon found two farmers in contempt of court for encouraging a tree sit on their property.