Judge Larson, a Colorado native, received her undergraduate degree from Southern Methodist University in 1989 and her law degree from the University of Colorado School of Law in 1993. Judge Larson worked as a prosecutor with the 21st Judicial District (Grand Junction) from 1993 to 1999 and with the 9th Judicial District (Glenwood Springs) from 1999 to 2005. In March 2005, she returned to the District Attorney's Office in Grand Junction until her appointment to the bench by Governor Owens in July 2006.