Born in Spokane, Martha attended the University of Washington and earned degrees in fisheries and history. Following Peace Corps service in Guatemala, Martha rededicated her career to advocate for marginalized immigrant communities in the United States. She received her Juris Doctorate from the University of Minnesota Law School and worked in government and nonprofit sectors before returning home to settle in Yakima. Martha is a member of the Washington State Bar Association, American Immigrant Lawyers Association, and the National Immigrant Project. She is also a certified Master Knitter and enjoys gardening.