She is the first woman to serve as a federal judge of the District Court of New Hampshire.

She received an Artium Baccalaureus degree in 1984, cum laude, from Harvard University.

From 1993 to 1994, she served as an associate at the law firm of McLane, Graf, Raulerson & Middleton, P.A.

In 2010, she was selected as a United States magistrate judge for the District of New Hampshire.

On December 12, 2013, the United States Senate invoked cloture on her nomination by a 58–40 vote.