He began practicing law in New York City and went on to serve as the Special Assistant New York State Attorney General in charge of the prosecution of election fraud from 1926 to 1928.

In 1931, he was appointed by President Herbert Hoover U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York.

Senator from New York, but was defeated by the incumbent Democrat Robert F. Wagner.

On September 28, 1945, he was appointed by Dewey, now Governor, to the New York Court of Appeals to fill the vacancy caused by the appointment of John T. Loughran as Chief Judge, and died in office.

Gladys Heldman was his daughter and Arthur Medalie was his son.