She received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Mount Holyoke College in 1966, and then received a Juris Doctor from Northeastern University School of Law in 1977.

She was a law clerk for Judge Herbert Jay Stern of the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey from 1977 to 1978, and then was in private practice of law in New Haven, Connecticut from 1978 to 1995.

On January 23, 1995, Arterton was nominated by President Bill Clinton to serve as a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut, to a seat vacated by Judge José A. Cabranes.

She was confirmed by the United States Senate on March 24, 1995, and received her commission the same day.

[3] During her service on the court, she presided over the case of Ricci v.