Judge Kilnoski was appointed as District Court Judge January 9, 2009 and served as District Associate Judge since 1996. She was born in Council Bluffs, Iowa, and attended Grinnell College. After graduating with her bachelor's degree in 1981, she went on to earn her law degree from University of Iowa in 1985. She worked as assistant city attorney for Council Bluffs until her appointment to the bench. She is a member of the Iowa Judges Association and member and past officer of the Iowa Organization of Women Attorneys.