He was previously Counsel to the House Judiciary Committee for nine years, including service from 1978-83 as Chief Counsel to the Subcommittee on Courts, Civil Liberties and the Administration of Justice. He previously served as a Justice Department Attorney from 1973-74, as a 1st Lieutenant in the U.S. Army from 1971-74, and as an Attorney for the Legislature in his home state of Wisconsin. He holds a B.A. and a J.D. from the University of Wisconsin.