Langford was born in Ohio in 1835. He crossed the Great Plains to Oregon and began his study of the law under J.S.D. Shattuck of Portland, who was considered an excellent attorney in his day. Langford continued his studies in the office of Judge P.A. Markham. After serving in the Indian Wars of the 1850s he began practicing law in Vancouver, Washington Territory, where he remained until 1862. The next year, he was appointed prosecuting attorney for Walla Walla County, the first judicial district, when Walla Walla was only in its first year as an incorporated city.

In 1864, Langford served in the Territorial Legislative Council, but soon moved on to Washington, D.C., Mississippi and San Francisco, practicing law in each location. He returned briefly to Washington Territory before moving again to Lewiston and finally back to Walla Walla. He served as Walla Walla’s city attorney until his appointment at age 50 to the federal bench. He was the last Territorial Justice of the Washington Territorial Supreme Court to serve in Walla Walla County. He was appointed by President Grover Cleveland on Dec. 3, 1885.

Judge William Langford is portrayed by Don Schacht.