Born in
Reno,
Nevada, Norcross received an
Artium Baccalaureus degree from the
University of Nevada, Reno in 1891 and a
Bachelor of Laws from
Georgetown Law in 1894. He was a district attorney of
Washoe County, Nevada from 1895 to 1897. He was a member of the
Nevada Assembly from 1897 to 1899. He was in private practice in Reno from 1899 to 1904. Norcross became a justice of the
Supreme Court of Nevada in 1904, serving until 1916, including terms as chief justice from 1909 to 1911 and from 1915 to 1916. He returned to private practice in Reno from 1917 to 1928. ==Federal judicial service==