He received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Tennessee in 1958 and a Juris Doctor from the University of Tennessee College of Law in 1960.

He was a manager for the Frontier Refining Company in Denver, Colorado from 1962 to 1964, returning to private practice in Johnson City, Tennessee from 1964 to 1966.

He resumed private practice in Johnson City from 1971 to 1980, and was a Chancellor of the First Judicial District of Tennessee from 1980 to 1988.

[2] On July 25, 1988, Jordan was nominated by President Ronald Reagan to a seat on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee vacated by Judge Robert Love Taylor.

[2] Jordan died in Maryville, Tennessee, on February 27, 2024, at the age of 89.