Slaughter received his B.A. in economics from Indiana University in 1985 and his J.D. from the Indiana University Maurer School of Law in 1989. He also received his M.B.A. from Indiana University's Kelley School of Business in 1989. Slaughter clerked for U.S. District Chief Judge Allen Sharp, then worked in private practice with the firm Kirkland & Ellis. He was special counsel to the attorney general of Indiana from 1995 to 2001. Slaughter was then a partner at Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP until his appointment to the state supreme court in 2016. In 2012, Slaughter was a finalist for appointment to the state supreme court. Gov. Mitch Daniels ultimately appointed Loretta Rush. Slaughter was a member of The Federalist Society.