Joseph Merle Lansden (1907–1989) was an American attorney, judge and politician from the U.S. state of Oklahoma.
[1] Lansden served in the United States Marine Corps from 1942 to 1946 and was discharged with the rank of major.
[1] Lansden served three terms as a member of the Oklahoma House of Representatives from Beaver County between 1941 and 1947.
[3] The special session was called by the Governor Robert S. Kerr to ensure military men and women could participate in the 1944 elections.
[3] Lansden's appointment was contentious and a minor revolt ended when he fainted due to exhaustion from travel and earned the sympathy of his fellow legislators.