St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1955-03-18

JUDGE JAMES c. OTIS
on countless other projects to inn
prove our city is Judge James c.
Otis of the Ramsey County Dis
trict Court.
Born on March %. 1912, in St.
Paul, Judge Otis is a graduate OF
st. Paul Academy, Yale Univer-
sity and the University of Mime
sofa Law School He practiced
law with the firm of Otis, Farley,
Burger and Moore from 1887 to
1913. From 1912 to 1914, he served
as an attorney on the civilian
staff of the Corps of Engineers at
Omaha.
In April, 194S, Judge Otis was
elected to the Municipal Court
Bench, where he served until his
appointment to the District Court
in April 1854. A member of the
faculty Of the st. Paul College of
Law, he also serves as treasurer
of the Minnesota Districs Judges
Association. He is a member OF
the Ramsey County, State of Min
nesota and American Bar Asso-
Citations and the American Judica-
ture Society.
When he was chairman of the
Ramsey County Mental Health
Committee In 1919, Judge Otis
helped to secure legislation to
improve care and facilities In
mental hospitals and increase
appropriations for the care of
mentally retarded children. Un.
der this committee, aid TO state
institutions was doubled.
In 1858, Judge Otis was ap-
pointed by Governor Anderson to
the Prison and Reform Committee
to study and make recommends
tons for penal institutions under
retired Chief Justice Gallagher
This committee of Is OF 20 lay
persons, social workers, labor
leaders, ministers, etc. submitted
its report in 1853. AS a result,
many changes and improvements
were made in state penal insti-
tutions.
Recently. Judge Otis was ap.
pointed by Governor Orville
Freeman to the committee 10
select q new warden ut Still
water. He serves as chairman Of
this committee which this week
named three candidates for the
post.
AS chairman Of the State Bar
Traffic Law Enforcement Com
mittee. Judge Otis has prepared
and submitted traffic safety bills
to the legislature, two Of which
have been passed by the house,
the "drunkometer" and "Tmpound-
ing License bills"
A member Of Unity Church,
Judge Otis married the former
Louise Geist of Minneapolis in
1888. They have a daughter,
Emily and two sons, James and
Todd. His honor implied that, no
doubt. Mrs. Otis could give a
more detailed account of his
many activities that keep him
away from home evenings.
Judge Otis is vice president Of
Children's hospital, a member Of
the board of directors of the st.
Paul Urban League; the Commit
tee Of Management of the Down
town INCA and member Of the
Executive Committee Of the Boy
Scouts.
He also serves on the Advis-
DRY Council Of Judges Of the
National Probation and Parole
Association. In this national or
ganization. there are only or
9 representatives In each state.
AS president Of the former ST.
Paul Exchange Club. Judge Otis
spearheaded the organizations
fight TO have the National Ex-
change Club repeal their white
only restriction clause in their
constitution. Growing out OF this,
the ST. Paul Exchange Club, on
December IS, 1854, withdrew from
the national organization. The
club was a corporate body since
1922 with los members. most OF
them prominent business and pro-
fessional men. They had held this
charter for 30 years Judge Otis
IL a member Of the new organiza-
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