Born in Kingston, Jamaica, Nyjat immigrated to the United States when she was seven years old. She first lived in Minnesota, then Texas, ultimately graduating from a performing arts high school in Miami. She went on to earn a B.B.A. in International Business and Finance from Howard University in Washington, D.C.

Before attending law school, Nyjat worked as an Investment Analyst with GE Capital in Richmond, VA. She first visited Seattle on a business trip in 2003 — and returned permanently shortly thereafter, having fallen in love with both the city and her soon-to-be husband, Antonio Akins, to whom she has now been married for 19 years. During her first years in Seattle, she worked as a litigation clerk at K&L Gates and later as a legal intern at Vonda Sargent.

While in law school, Nyjat was a Rule 9 intern at the Pierce County Prosecuting Attorney's Office. She graduated from Seattle University School of Law in 2008.

From 2010–2016, Nyjat began her legal career as an Assistant City Prosecutor in the Criminal Division of the Seattle City Attorney's Office. She evaluated police reports, handled hundreds of cases, tried over 60 jury trials in Seattle Municipal Court, and worked with participants in Mental Health Court and Community Court to compassionately address non-violent criminal behavior.

In 2016, Nyjat moved to the Civil Division as a Precinct Liaison Attorney-Supervisor, where she worked until 2023. In this role she advised and defended the City on issues ranging from police accountability to homelessness and neighborhood concerns, while also advising SPD, the Mayor's Office, and other city departments.

While serving as a Precinct Liaison Attorney, Nyjat also sat regularly as a Judge Pro Tempore in King County — making probable cause determinations, setting pre-trial release conditions, and imposing sentences. Her awareness of how a criminal case impacts all those involved has deepened profoundly through this experience.

Today, Nyjat serves as a Court Commissioner Pro Tempore in King County, ensuring procedural fairness, adjudicating civil protection order hearings including Domestic Violence, Anti-Harassment, Anti-Stalking, and Sexual Assault Protection Orders, and presiding over contested Involuntary Treatment Act hearings.

Nyjat and her husband live in West Seattle, where she spends her free time traveling, cooking, and volunteering.

A Philosophy of Judicial Service

Nyjat's approach to decision-making from the bench is to listen first, decide last, and never let ego interfere with fulfilling her judicial responsibilities. She believes in individualized justice and approaches every case with deep respect for the weight of judicial decision-making — treating every person who comes before the court with dignity and respect.