He was a professor of law at the University of Utah from 1926 to 1950, and in private practice in Salt Lake City from 1935 to 1949, also receiving a Doctor of Juridical Science from Harvard Law School in 1940.

[2] On October 21, 1949, Ritter received a recess appointment from President Harry S. Truman to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Utah vacated by Judge Tillman Davis Johnson.

He was formally nominated on January 5, 1950, and opposed during the confirmation process by United States Senator from Utah Arthur Vivian Watkins.

[1] Ritter was confirmed by the United States Senate on June 29, 1950, and received his commission on July 7, 1950.

He served as Chief Judge from 1954 until his death on March 4, 1978, in Salt Lake City.