He was an attorney for the Legal Department of the Tennessee Valley Authority from 1935 to 1936.

He was a judge of the Court of Common Pleas for Miami County, Ohio from 1949 to 1966.

[1] Porter was nominated by President Lyndon B. Johnson on September 30, 1966, to the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, to a new seat created by 80 Stat.

He was confirmed by the United States Senate on October 20, 1966, and received his commission on November 3, 1966.

Porter served in that capacity until his death on January 5, 1989.