He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Luther College in 1973 and his Juris Doctor from Hamline University School of Law in 1977.

On May 21, 1998, President Bill Clinton nominated Frank to the seat on the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota vacated by David S. Doty.

Frank credits Judge Mitchell A. Dubow for championing disability laws: As an assistant attorney for St. Louis County, Judge Frank tried a case before a jury that involved the first felony child sexual abuse case in the state of Minnesota in which expert testimony was allowed to explain why young children do not report sexual abuse and why mothers often support the father or the boyfriend who is accused of the abuse.

Judge Frank also handled the appeal of the case to the Minnesota Supreme Court.

In State v. Myers, 359 N.W.2d 604 (Minn. 1984), the Minnesota Supreme Court unanimously affirmed the receipt of such testimony for the first time.