Born in Chillicothe, Missouri, Broaddus received a Bachelor of Laws from the Kansas City School of Law (now the University of Missouri–Kansas City School of Law) in 1910.

He was in private practice in Muskogee, Oklahoma from 1910 to 1940.

[1] Broaddus was nominated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on September 24, 1940, to a joint seat on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, the United States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma and the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma vacated by Judge Alfred P. Murrah.

He was confirmed by the United States Senate on September 27, 1940, and received his commission on October 1, 1940.

His service terminated on December 10, 1949, due to his death.