Peggy B. Hughes was born in Buffalo, New York, on February 9, 1944. She moved to Southern California while still a child. She is married and has 3 adult children.

Ms. Hughes graduated from University of California Los Angeles with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology in 1966, after which she was employed for eight years as a Probation Officer for Los Angeles County. She returned to school and earned a Software Technician Certificate, learned to program in 6 computer languages, repaired computers, and worked as a Computer Lab Technician and Teacher. Subsequently, she attended Southwestern University School of Law. While in law school, she received the American Jurisprudence Award in Product Liability.

Ms. Hughes received a Juris Doctor degree and was admitted to the California Bar, the California Supreme Court, and the United States District Court for the Central District of California in 1992.