He was in private practice of law in San Francisco from 1946 to 1961. He was an Assistant United States Attorney General of the
Civil Division of the
United States Department of Justice from 1961 to 1962. He was Deputy United States Undersecretary of State for Administration at the
United States Department of State from 1962 to 1963. He was an
Assistant United States Attorney General of the
Antitrust Division of the United States Department of Justice from 1963 to 1965. He was in private practice of law in San Francisco from 1965 to 1974.
Federal judicial service On May 31, 1974, Orrick was nominated by President
Richard Nixon to a seat on the
United States District Court for the Northern District of California vacated by Judge
William Thomas Sweigert. Orrick was confirmed by the
United States Senate on June 21, 1974, and received his commission on July 8, 1974. He was the judge in the
Patty Hearst sentencing in 1976. He assumed
senior status on October 31, 1985, serving in that status until his death. ==Personal life==