He was formerly a South Carolina state judge and a law associate of Senator Lindsey Graham.

He attended Anderson College in 1979 and 1980 and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 1983 from the University of South Carolina.

[1][2] After graduating from law school, Cain worked in private legal practice in Walhalla, South Carolina from 1986 until 1988 (including a stint in 1987 as a public defender in Seneca, South Carolina), and then as an assistant county solicitor in Seneca from 1988 until 1989.

[1] During Cain's time in private practice, he worked alongside future United States Senator Lindsey Graham for about three years.

[1][2] On February 16, 2011, President Barack Obama nominated Cain to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina that had been vacated by Judge Patrick Michael Duffy who assumed senior status in 2009.