He received an Artium Baccalaureus degree from the University of Georgia in 1967 and a Juris Doctor from the University of Georgia School of Law in 1970.

He was in the United States Army Reserves in the Judge Advocate General's Corps from 1971 to 1997.

He was a special assistant attorney general of the State of Georgia from 1974 to 1976, and then a district attorney of Georgia's Conasauga Judicial Circuit from 1977 to 1979.

He was a Superior court judge of the Conasauga Judicial Circuit from 1979 to 1999.

On July 14, 1999, Pannell was nominated by President Bill Clinton to a seat on the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia vacated by Frank M. Hull.