The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals appointed Judge Blumenstiel to the bankruptcy bench on February 11, 2013.

Prior to her appointment, Judge Blumenstiel was an associate (2003 - 2008) and then a partner (2008 - 2012) with Winston & Strawn LLP, where she focused her practice on creditors' rights litigation in state and federal court, including bankruptcy court. From 2001 to 2003, Judge Blumenstiel was an associate with Murphy Sheneman Julian & Rogers LLP, where she represented debtors, creditors and trustees in bankruptcy cases and adversary proceedings.

Judge Blumenstiel served as Law Clerk to the Honorable Charles M. Caldwell of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Ohio (Eastern Division) from 1998 to 2001. From 1997 to 1998, Judge Blumenstiel represented the State of Ohio's interests in bankruptcy cases as an Assistant Attorney General with the Revenue Recovery Section of the Ohio Attorney General's Office.

Judge Blumenstiel earned her Juris Doctorate from Capital University Law School in 1997. During her first two years of law school, she worked full-time for the Columbus Bar Association as Director of its pro bono initiative "Lawyers for Justice." Judge Blumenstiel received her B.A. from The Ohio State University in 1992.

Judge Blumenstiel is a member of the Board of Directors of Meals on Wheels of San Francisco, Inc. She has served as Co-Chair of the Bench-Bar Liaison Committee of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of California; Co-Chair of the Commercial Law & Bankruptcy Section of the Bar Association of San Francisco; and Chair of the Bankruptcy Section of the Barrister's Club of the Bar Association of San Francisco.

Judge Blumenstiel frequently lectures on bankruptcy, receivership and commercial litigation issues.