He was an Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Columbia from 1891 to 1904.

He was a special assistant to the United States Attorney General from 1907 to 1913.

He was in the United States Army JAG Corps from 1917 to 1918, and then returned to private practice in Washington, D.C. until 1921.

He served as the United States Attorney for the District of Columbia from 1921 to 1928.

He was confirmed by the United States Senate on March 29, 1928, and received his commission the same day.