Bratton served in the United States Army during World War II from 1942 to 1945 and attained the rank of captain.

[3] After spending a year as a law clerk for the United States Court of Appeals in 1948, he worked in private practice in Albuquerque, New Mexico, from 1949 to 1952.

He was also a special assistant United States attorney in charge of litigation at the Office of Price Stabilization from 1951 to 1952.

[4] In 1958, Bratton testified before the United States Senate Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs on behalf of the New Mexico Oil & Gas Association.

[5] On March 3, 1964, Bratton was nominated by President Lyndon B. Johnson to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico vacated by Judge Waldo Henry Rogers.