He had served as a captain in the United States Marine Corps in the interim, from 1952 to 1958.
He moved to Minneapolis the next year and practiced there from 1962 to 1987, partly with the Popham Haik law firm.
[2] Doty was nominated by President Ronald Reagan on February 5, 1987, to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota vacated by Judge Miles Lord.
[2] Throughout his career as a judge, Doty has played an important role in labor disputes involving the National Football League (NFL).
[citation needed] On March 1, 2011, he ruled that the NFL violated the CBA by negotiating a $4 billion payment from their broadcasting partners, in effect purchasing insurance against a potential lockout.