[1] Norton worked in the office of the Minnesota Attorney General from 1955 to 1965, specializing in tax law.

He became Speaker of the House in 1980 after mid-term elections broke a deadlock in the body.

He did not have the support of the majority of his caucus, but 49 Independent-Republicans joined 26 DFLers to give him the Speaker's gavel.

He served only one year before being replaced by Harry A. Sieben, Jr. after the 1982 elections gave Democrats a larger majority.

[1] Norton resigned from the House in June 1987, accepting an appointment to the Minnesota Court of Appeals by Governor Rudy Perpich.