He received a Bachelor of Science from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1961 and a Bachelor of Laws from University of North Carolina School of Law in 1963.

He was an assistant director for the Administrative Office of the Courts of North Carolina from 1968 to 1973.

Bullock was nominated by President Ronald Reagan on November 23, 1982, to a seat on the United States District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina vacated by Judge Eugene Andrew Gordon.

He was confirmed by the United States Senate on December 10, 1982, and received his commission the same day.

He served as Chief Judge from 1992 to 1999 and assumed senior status on December 31, 2005.