Born in Louisville, Kentucky, Wooten received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of South Carolina in 1976 and a Juris Doctor from the University of South Carolina School of Law in 1980.

He was an Assistant Solicitor, Richland County, South Carolina, from 1982 to 1986.

He was a Chief counsel, United States Senate Judiciary Committee from 1986 to 1991.

He was an Assistant United States Attorney of the United States Attorney's Office, District of South Carolina from 1992 to 1999.

Wooten was nominated by President George W. Bush on September 4, 2001, to a new seat created by 114 Stat.