He was in the United States Navy from 1960 to 1962, where he was a Lieutenant Junior Grade, and an executive officer on the USS Banner (AKL-25) in the Western Pacific Ocean.

[4][5] Gorton worked in private practice in Boston from 1966 to 1992, where he was an associate in the trial and business departments at Nutter McClennen & Fish until 1969, an associate at Powers & Hall PC from 1970 to 1974 and a partner at the latter firm from 1975 until 1992, practicing civil business litigation.

[6][7][4] On April 28, 1992, Gorton was nominated by President George H. W. Bush to a new seat on the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts created by Section 203(a)(14) of the Civil Justice Reform Act of 1990 (Pub.

[3] In 2015 Gorton received the Federal Bar Association, Massachusetts chapter, Recognition Award for dedication and service.

"[8][9] He presided over the sentencing of many parents indicted in the 2019 College admissions bribery scandal, most notably, actress Lori Loughlin and her husband, fashion designer Mossimo Giannulli, which saw the two of them sentenced to two months and five months in prison respectively.