Born in Racine, Wisconsin to Zachary and Eva Dorman, he graduated from William Horlick High School in 1935.

He served in the United States Army Air Forces during World War II.

[2] Dorman served for 14 years, but in 1978 Dorman had been indicted earlier in the year for misuse of state telephone credit cards, and was plagued by other controversies, including a nepotism scandal.

[5][6][7] His funeral was held at Beth Israel Sinai Temple on September 11, 1998, and he was interred in the Racine Jewish Memorial Cemetery.

Dorman was a member of Beth Israel Sinai Congregation, the Wisconsin and Racine Bar Associations, and the National Society of State Legislators.