A Charleston native, Workman earned a law degree from WVU in 1974 and began her law practice. Appointed to the Kanawha Circuit Court in 1981, she became the first woman elected to the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals in 1988.

Workman served as chief justice multiple times and was a strong advocate for children’s rights, gender fairness, and domestic violence programs. She received several awards, including the Excellence in Criminal Justice Award in 1993.

After resigning from the Supreme Court in 1999, Workman returned to private practice, later winning a 12-year term on the high court in 2008. She retired in 2020.