Born in Greenville, South Carolina, Martin received a Bachelor of Laws from Washington and Lee University School of Law in 1931.
He was a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives from Greenville County from 1943 to 1944.
He was a judge of the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit of South Carolina from 1944 to 1961.
[1] Martin was nominated by President John F. Kennedy on August 30, 1961, to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of South Carolina and to the United States District Court for the Western District of South Carolina, to a new joint seat created by 75 Stat.
He was reassigned by operation of law to the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina on November 1, 1965, to a new seat authorized by 79 Stat.