Lotus Langley

File:Lotus Langley in 1934.png

Lotus L. Langley (September 15, 1875-1955) was a Democratic politician and lawyer in the U.S. state of Oregon in the early 20th century. He served one term as district attorney of Multnomah County,{{Cite news |date= January 20, 1935 |title=Convicts As Jurors |pages=10 |work=The Oregon Journal}} after defeating rival Stanley Myers by the largest majority of any previous occupant of the office.{{Cite news |date=July 2, 1933 |title=Meier to Stress Sales Tax Need |pages=14 |work=The Oregonian}}{{Cite news |last=Lockley |first=Fred |date=August 6, 1933 |title=Impressions and Observations of the Journal Man |work=The Oregon Journal}}

A "Committee of 50" vigorously pursued his recall in 1932, but fell just short of the requisite number of signatures.{{Cite news |date=October 18, 1932 |title=Drive to Oust Langley Fails; Names Lacking |pages=6 |work=The Oregon Journal}} The committee "came into being when it seemed evident that maladministration of city affairs existed, and that under existing conditions there was little likelihood of the facts becoming generally known..." It claimed credit for producing the evidence that resulted in grand jury indictments against the mayor and a city commissioner, and the recall of the latter.{{Cite news |date=October 16, 1932 |title=Riley Plans Hard Fight on Recall Move |pages=5 |work=Oregon Journal}} The recall petition accused Langley of "incompetence, personal laziness and negligence that render him unfit to continue in his official capacity" and alleged that he was less than diligent in pursuing certain convictions. {{Cite news |date=October 16, 1932 |title=Opposition to Recalls Is Aroused |pages=A1 |work=The Oregon Journal}} Langley also commented on the lack of convictions, focusing on gambling, and placed the blame on the police bureau.{{Cite news |date=October 11, 1932 |title=Gambling Writs Not Served, Says Langley |pages=A1 |work=The Oregon Journal}}

Langley authored the amendment to the Oregon Constitution that provides for 10-juror convictions in criminal cases, ran to be a delegate to a contentious Democratic National Convention in 1940, and served as state chair of the Democratic party, and as president of the Multnomah County bar association.{{Cite news |date=March 20, 1940 |title=Langley Seeks Convention Post |work=The Oregonian}}{{Cite news |date=December 17, 1932 |title=Roseburg Attorney Heads Association: Langley Proposal Indorsed |work=The Oregonian}} He was also chosen as vice president of the District Attorneys of Oregon.{{Cite news |date=November 25, 1933 |title=Gillenwaters Selected by Prosecutors |work=The Oregon Journal}} In 1937 he was appointed to the state parole board by Governor Martin.{{Cite news |date=16 April 1937 |title=Lotus Langley Now on State Parole Board |work=Corvallis Gazette-Times |agency=UPI}}

Langley was born in Scranton, Iowa in 1875.{{Cite news |last=Lockley |first=Fred |date=November 17, 1932 |title=Oregon Folks |work=The Oregon Journal}} He grew up in northwestern Kansas, and described his experience herding cattle as formative. An early job was inking forms, and later running the press, for the Hoxie Sentinel. He moved to Oregon in 1891, attended Pacific University, and then worked in his father's law office.

Langley's sister Manche Irene Langley was one of the first woman lawyers in Oregon, and his son William served an incomplete term as Multnomah County district attorney prior to being removed from office. He also had a daughter named Mary.{{Cite news |date=25 Oct 1935 |title=Shedd |work=Greater Oregon |location=Albany, Oregon}}