Todd was born on October 15, 1957, in Ellwood City, Pennsylvania. She received a bachelor's degree from Chatham College in 1979 and a law degree from the University of Pittsburgh in 1982. Todd received a master of laws degree from the University of Virginia in 2004. Todd began her legal career as a litigation attorney with U.S. Steel Corp from 1982 to 1987. She then entered private practice, where she, remained until 1999. During that time, Todd also worked as a court-appointed special master with the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas from 1989 to 1999. Following an unsuccessful campaign in 1997, Todd won election to the Pennsylvania Superior Court in 1999. She held the position until her election to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court in 2007.
