He attended Fernley School and graduated from the University of Nevada in 1941, majoring in economics and history and was a member of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity.
[1][2] After the attack on Pearl Harbor, Batjer enlisted in the United States Navy, serving in the Seabees with the 3rd Marine Division in the Pacific Theater.
Returning to Nevada, he taught school and practiced law in Carson City before becoming District Attorney of Ormsby County, succeeding Paul Laxalt, in 1954.
He served as chairman of the Ormsby County Republican Party and twice ran for Nevada Attorney General, albeit unsuccessfully.
He resigned from the court in 1981 to accept an appointment as chairman of the United States Parole Commission from President Ronald Reagan, a position he would serve in until his retirement in 1990.