He was a member of the New Jersey General Assembly from 1937 to 1938.

He was in the United States Army during World War II from 1943 to 1945 and was a private serving in the South Pacific.

[1][2] While in the army, he did his initial training as a medic at the Medical Replacement Training Center, Fort Pickett, Virginia.

[3] On March 19, 1962, Shaw was nominated by President John F. Kennedy to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey vacated by Judge William Francis Smith.

Shaw served in that capacity until his death on July 9, 1972.