[2] She began her legal career by serving as a law clerk to Justice Donald F. Shea of the Rhode Island Supreme Court, from 1992 to 1993.

From 1993 to 1994, she was an associate at the law firm of Tate and Elias LLC in Providence, Rhode Island.

From 2006 to 2012, she served as an Assistant Federal Public Defender for the Districts of Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island.

[8] On January 3, 2019, her nomination was returned to the President under Rule XXXI, Paragraph 6 of the United States Senate.

On August 13, 2020, the U.S. Supreme Court affirmed McElroy's decision, although Thomas, Alito, and Gorsuch noted their votes to reverse.