She received a Juris Doctor, magna cum laude, in 1998 from University of Georgia School of Law.

From 2000 to 2014, she was a partner at the Atlanta office of the law firm of Butler, Wooten & Fryhofer LLP, where her practice focused on complex civil litigation in both state and federal courts.

[3] She received a hearing before the full panel of the United States Senate Judiciary Committee on May 13, 2014.

[5] On September 18, 2014, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid filed for cloture on her nomination.

On Wednesday, November 12, 2014, the United States Senate invoked cloture on her nomination by a 67–30 vote.