He received his Bachelor of Arts, magna cum laude, in 1970 from the University of Notre Dame, then earned his Juris Doctor from Cornell Law School in 1974.

Within weeks of taking office, Sorrell joined a suit against the nation's largest tobacco companies to end their deceitful behavior of lying about the harmful effects of their products.

Sorrell joined litigation against American Electric Power, a major contributor to acid rain problems in Vermont and other states in the region.

The verdict was a success for the cause of reversing the adverse effects global warming and increasing the fuel economy of motor vehicles.

In appreciation for his service, in 2008 the foundation endowed the William H. Sorrell Lecture Series, funding an annual address on tobacco control issues at a NAAG meeting.

Sorrell has been accused of burying sensitive investigations and covering up criminal acts committed by persons or institutions with influence in Vermont.