Merrill E. Otis

Merrill E. Otis (July 7, 1884 – December 23, 1944) was a United States federal judge.

Born in Nodaway County, Missouri, Otis received an A.B. from the University of Missouri in 1906, an A.M. from the University of Missouri in 1910, and an LL.B. from the University of Missouri in 1910. He was in private practice in St. Joseph, Missouri from 1911 to 1921. He was a Candidate for U.S. House of Representatives in 1914. He was a First assistant city counselor, St. Joseph from 1915 to 1916. He was a First assistant prosecuting attorney of St. Joseph, Missouri from 1917 to 1918. He was a First assistant state attorney general of Missouri from 1921 to 1923. He was a Chairman, Missouri Public Service Commission from 1923 to 1924. He was an Assistant to the U.S. solicitor general from 1924 to 1925.

Otis was a federal judge on the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri. Otis received a recess appointment from Calvin Coolidge on March 23, 1925, to a seat vacated by Arba S. Van Valkenburgh. Formally nominated on December 8, 1925. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on December 14, 1925, and received his commission the same day. Otis served in that capacity until December 23, 1944, due to his death.

Sources

• Merrill E. Otis at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a public domain publication of the Federal Judicial Center.

Persondata
Name	Otis, Merrill E.
Alternative names
Short description	United States federal judge
Date of birth	July 7, 1884
Place of birth	Nodaway County, Missouri
Date of death	December 23, 1944
Place of death