Merrill E. Otis

Merrill E. Otis (July 7, 1884 – December 23, 1944) was a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri. Education and career Born in Hopkins, Nodaway County, Missouri, Otis received an Artium Baccalaureus degree from the University of Missouri in 1906, an Artium Magister degree from the same institution in 1910, and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Missouri School of Law in 1910. He was in private practice in St. Joseph, Missouri from 1911 to 1921. He was an unsuccessful candidate for the United States House of Representatives in 1914. He was a first assistant city counselor for St. Joseph from 1915 to 1916, and first assistant prosecuting attorney of that city from 1917 to 1918. He was a first assistant state attorney general of Missouri from 1921 to 1923. He was Chairman of the Missouri Public Service Commission from 1923 to 1924. He was then an assistant to the United States Solicitor General from 1924 to 1925. Federal judicial service