Born in Spokane, Washington, Rice earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Gonzaga University in 1983 and a Juris Doctor from Gonzaga University School of Law in 1986.

[1][2] On June 29, 2011, President Obama nominated Rice to the seat on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington that had been vacated by Judge Robert H. Whaley, who assumed senior status in 2009.

[4] On March 6, 2012, the United States Senate confirmed Rice's nomination by a 93–4 vote.

[2] Rice served as Chief Judge of the court from January 27, 2016 to July 24, 2020.

[6] In April 2023, in a lawsuit brought by 17 states and the District of Columbia, Rice issued a temporary injunction that the Food and Drug Administration should not reduce access to the abortion medication mifepristone in these states and the district.