He maintains chambers in El Dorado, the seat of Union County in south Arkansas.

Shepherd received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia in 1973.

His appointment was only the second time ever a sitting magistrate judge had been elevated directly to a federal court of appeals.

[1]: 101 Shepherd was nominated to the Eighth Circuit[1]: 61  by President George W. Bush on May 18, 2006, to fill a seat to be vacated by Judge Morris S. Arnold.

Shepherd was confirmed by the United States Senate by voice vote on July 20, 2006.