Born in
Lakewood, Ohio, Gaughan received a
Bachelor of Arts degree from
Saint Mary's College in 1975 and a
Juris Doctor from
Notre Dame Law School in 1978. She was an assistant
prosecuting attorney of the Criminal Trial Division, Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's Office, Ohio from 1978 to 1983 and from 1984 to 1987. She was an
Assistant United States Attorney of the Economic Crime Division, Northern District of Ohio from 1983 to 1984. She was an adjunct professor at
Cleveland Marshall College of Law,
Cleveland State University from 1983 to 1987, and was in private practice in
Cleveland from 1984 to 1987. She was a judge of the
Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas from 1987 to 1995.
Federal judicial service On September 29, 1995, Gaughan was nominated by President
Bill Clinton to a seat on the
United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio vacated by
Ann Aldrich. Gaughan was confirmed by the
United States Senate on December 22, 1995, and received her commission on December 26, 1995. She served as chief judge from 2017 to 2023. She assumed
senior status on October 1, 2023. ==References==