Judge Porter enlisted and served in the United States Marine Corps during the Vietnam Era. In 1976, he graduated from Southern University Law School earning a Juris Doctorate Degree (withi academic honors) and served as Editor-in-Chief of the Southern University Law Review. Judge Porter was admitted to practice before the Louisiana Supreme Court in October 1976, United States District Courts (Western District of Louisiana) and the United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeal.

Judge Porter practiced in Baton Rouge as a Staff Attorney under Attorney General William Guste, Jr. In May 1978, he was appointed as an Assistant District Attorney in the Sixteenth Judicial District under the Honorable Knowles Tucker and the Honorable Bernard E. Boudreaux, Jr.

Judge Porter practiced as a criminal and civil trial lawyer until election in October 1993 as a District Judge, Division G. In 1996 and 2002, he was re elected to Division G. In 1999 Judge Porter served as Chief Judge of the 16th Judicial District. In addition to his duties in civil and criminal courts, Judge Porter presides in a specialized court for child victims of neglect and abuse removed from the custody of parents and placed in foster care.

Past & Present Community & Professional Activities: Teche United Church of Christ; Charter Member and Past President of the Sugarland Optimist Club of New Iberia; Olive Branch Lodge #36, Prince Hall F and A Masons; Southern University Alumni & Southern University Law School Alumni; 100 Black Men of St. Mary Parish; US Marine Corp League, McIlhenny Detachment; President, Bunk Johnson /New Iberia Jazz & Heritage Festival, Inc.; St. Edward School Board; Member of the Advisory Board to Louisiana Juvenile Justice Commission; 1999 Chairmen of the Judicial Excellence Awards, American Bar Association, Judicial Division; La District Judges Executive Committee (1996 & present); President, New Iberia Police Athletic League.