She previously served as the Chief United States magistrate judge of the same court.

[1] She received her Bachelor of Science from California State University, Bakersfield in 1989 and her Juris Doctor from the California Pacific School of Law in 1997 and her Master of Laws from Duke University in 2018.

President Biden nominated Thurston to the seat vacated by Judge Lawrence Joseph O'Neill, who assumed senior status on February 2, 2020.

[4] On October 20, 2021, a hearing on her nomination was held before the Senate Judiciary Committee.

[6] On December 17, 2021, the United States Senate invoked cloture on her nomination by a 46–24 vote.