Doty was born in
Anoka, Minnesota. He received his
Bachelor of Arts degree from the
University of Minnesota in 1952 and his
Juris Doctor from the
University of Minnesota Law School in 1961. He had served as a captain in the
United States Marine Corps in the interim, from 1952 to 1958. Following graduation he practiced privately in
St. Paul, Minnesota for a year. He moved to
Minneapolis the next year and practiced there from 1962 to 1987, partly with the Popham Haik law firm. He had also served as a state Special Assistant Attorney General from 1968 to 1969 and as President of the
Minnesota State Bar Association from 1984 to 1985.
Federal judicial service Doty was nominated by President
Ronald Reagan on February 5, 1987, to a seat on the
United States District Court for the District of Minnesota vacated by Judge
Miles Lord. He was confirmed by the
United States Senate on May 7, 1987, and received commission on May 8, 1987. He assumed
senior status on June 30, 1998. Judge Doty is named in the current NFL
collective bargaining agreement (CBA) as the ultimate arbiter of grievances or issues between the
NFL Players Association and the
NFL Management Council. On March 1, 2011, he ruled that the NFL violated the CBA by negotiating a $4 billion payment from their broadcasting partners, in effect purchasing insurance against a potential lockout. ==References==