Born on August 19, 1902, in Walterboro, South Carolina, Bootle received an Artium Baccalaureus degree in 1924 from Mercer University and a Bachelor of Laws in 1925 from the Walter F. George School of Law at Mercer University.

He was a part-time professor at Mercer University from 1926 to 1937 and served as acting dean from 1933 to 1937.

[2] Bootle was nominated by President Dwight D. Eisenhower on May 3, 1954, to a seat on the United States District Court for the Middle District of Georgia vacated by Judge Abraham Benjamin Conger.

[2] Bootle ordered the first admission of an African-American to the University of Georgia in 1961 (Hamilton E. Holmes and Charlayne Hunter).

[citation needed] In 1982, Bootle was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Mercer University.