Born in Leavenworth, Kansas, Black received an Artium Baccalaureus degree from the University of Washington in 1910 and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Washington School of Law in 1912.

He was a special counsel to the City of Everett in 1916 and from 1920 to 1922, and a prosecuting attorney of Snohomish County, Washington from 1917 to 1919.

He served in the United States Army towards the end of World War I in 1918, and was later an attorney in the United States Army at the Port of Everett from 1923 to 1936.

[1] Black was nominated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on August 2, 1939, to the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington, to a new seat authorized by 52 Stat.

Black was reassigned by operation of law on January 20, 1940, to serve additionally on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington, to a new seat authorized by 54 Stat.