Justice (Fmr) Douglas Lang advises on litigation and appellate strategies and presents appeals in jurisdictions across the country. He co-chairs Thompson Coburn’s appellate group and is a leader in the legal profession on mentorship, civility and ethics.
Justice Lang collaborates with the firm’s trial lawyers to devise the best appellate strategies for clients and also works directly on filings or argues cases before appellate panels. Since returning to private practice, Justice Lang has appeared in state and federal courts across Texas and presented appeals in federal circuit courts and at the U.S. Supreme Court.
Drawing on his many years of judicial service and trial experience, Justice Lang provides prompt, strategic, and solution-oriented advice on resolving or avoiding conflicts. Most recently, he represented clients in cases before the Texas Supreme Court and the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.
Justice Lang served over 16 years on the Fifth District Court of Appeals in Dallas, a 13-judge appellate court with the highest case volume of the 14 intermediate appellate courts in Texas. He authored more than 2,100 opinions and participated in deciding more than 6,100 cases. During that same period, he served for six years as a member of the Texas Multi-District Litigation Panel and as chair of the Texas Commission on Judicial Conduct.
Highly respected for his tireless leadership in bar and community activities, Justice Lang’s dedication to mentoring young lawyers and devotion to civility and ethics in the legal profession have been guiding forces in his practice over 50+ years. Renowned in the field, Justice Lang is a frequent speaker at civic and continuing education events around Texas and nationally and has published many articles on appellate law, civility, and ethics.
Professional
- National Legal Mentoring Consortium, Advisory Board, 2022-present
- American Inns of Court Trial Academy, Founder
- Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law, Adjunct Professor, Legal Ethics, 2023-present
- Dallas Bar Association, President, 1991, Member, 1973-Present
- Dallas Bar Foundation, Chair, 1998-2001, Fellow, 1991-Present
- American Law Institute, Member, 2004-Present
- State Bar of Texas, Chair, 2021 Day of Civility
- Texas State Commission on Judicial Conduct, Appointed Member by the Texas Supreme Court, 2013-2018, Chair, 2017-2018, Vice Chair, 2015-2017, Secretary, 2015
- American Inns of Court Foundation, Secretary, Board of Trustees, 2008-2015
- National Conference of Bar Presidents of the American Bar Association, President, 2004-2005
- Texas Center for Legal Ethics and Professionalism, Chair, 1999-2002, Board of Trustees, 1996-2004
Community
- The Federal Lawyer, Editorial Board Member, 2023
- Society of St. Vincent de Paul Society, North Texas, Advisory Board Member and Christ the King Parish Chapter of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Member, 2023-present
- Salesmanship Club of Dallas, Inc., Member, 1992-Present
- Drake University Board of Trustees, Member, 2002-Present
- Christ the King Catholic Church, Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, Lector, 2014-Present
- Legatus, Dallas Chapter, Board of Directors, 2019-Present
- Drake University National Alumni Association, President 2002-2004, Vice President, 2000-2002, Board of Directors, 1998-2006
- Outstanding 50 Year Lawyer Award, Texas Bar Foundation, 2024
- William Roper Award, St. Thomas More Society of the Diocese of Dallas, Texas, 2024
- Texas Trailblazer, Designated by The Texas Lawyer, 2019
- Shalom Award for Civic Contribution, 2019, Presented by Temple Shalom Brotherhood
- State Bar of Texas, Presidents’ Award, (Outstanding Contributions to the Legal Profession), 2010
- Recognition for Service and Leadership, awarded by the American Civil Trial Bar Roundtable, 2015
- Texas Bar Foundation, 2007 Lola Wright Foundation Award for outstanding public service in advancing and enhancing legal ethics in Texas
- Citation of Merit, University of Missouri School of Law, 2012
- William “Mac” Taylor American Inn of Court, 2011 Sergeant of the Inn Award
- President’s Citation, Dallas Bar Association, 2018
- Dallas Bar Foundation, Fellows Award (Service to the Community and the Legal Profession), 2010
- Dallas Association of Young Lawyers, Outstanding Mentor Award, 2008
- Dallas Bar Association, 2007 Morris Harrell Professionalism Award
- State Bar of Texas, 1999 Presidential Citation Recipient
- Drake University, Double D Award, (Drake’s highest award bestowed upon former athletic letter award winners for professional achievement and community service), 1993
- Drake University, 1992 Alumni Achievement Award
- State Bar of Texas Award of Merit conferred upon the Dallas Bar Association for its 1991 programs during Lang’s presidency
- Legal Services of North Texas’ Outstanding Service Award, 1991
- Dallas Association of Young Lawyers’ Outstanding Young Lawyer in Dallas, 1981
I am a voracious reader of mystery novels. One of my favorite novelists is the prolific Michael Connelly. Also, over the years, my friends, family, and I have backpacked on many trails in the Rocky Mountains including areas of New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, and Montana. As with most backpackers, when I have summited a mountain, I feel a sense of awe as I look over the peaks surrounding me.