He served as a private in the United States Army during World War I.
He was a Justice of the Municipal Court of New York City from 1918 to 1923.
He was Republican leader of 15th assembly district in New York County from 1924 to 1927.
[1] Coleman received a recess appointment from President Calvin Coolidge on May 19, 1927, to a seat on the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York vacated by Judge Augustus Noble Hand.
He was confirmed by the United States Senate on December 19, 1927, and received his commission the same day.