[1] On May 11, 1959, Field was nominated by President Dwight D. Eisenhower to a seat on the United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia vacated by Judge Ben Moore.

He was confirmed by the United States Senate on August 12, 1959, and received his commission the following day.

[1] On September 8, 1971, Field was nominated by President Richard Nixon to a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit vacated by Judge Herbert Stephenson Boreman.

He served as a Judge of the United States Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court of Review from May 19, 1982, to May 18, 1989.

His service terminated on December 16, 1995, due to his death in Naples, Florida.