Born in Austin, Texas, West attended the West Texas Military Academy (later the Texas Military Institute, now TMI Episcopal) and received a Bachelor of Laws from Cumberland School of Law (then part of Cumberland University, now part of Samford University) in 1890.
He was an Assistant United States Attorney of the Western District of Texas from 1893 to 1897.
[1] West was nominated by President Woodrow Wilson on December 19, 1916, to a seat on the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas vacated by Judge Thomas Sheldon Maxey.
He was confirmed by the United States Senate on December 21, 1916, and received his commission the same day.
West served in that capacity until his death on May 13, 1949, in San Antonio.