University of Michigan - Michiganensian Yearbook (Ann Arbor, MI)

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Victor Hugo Lane In the year 1897 Judge Lane was called to a professorship in the Law Depart- ment of the University of Michigan. At that time he was circuit judge of the first judicial circuit of Michigan, a position he had filled for many years. The invitation given him to teach in the halls of his alma mater was accepted and he laid down the ermine, the wearing of which had become to him somewhat tiresome. Judge Lane spent his early days in Hudson, Michigan. Here he prepared for college. He graduated from the Literary department of the University of Michigan with the class of 1874, and from the Law department with the class of 1878. After graduation he practiced law for a short time at his home town in Hudson. Then he moved to Adrian, the county seat of Lenawee county. Here his influence at the bar grew somewhat remarkably. This sketch does not permit details. Enough to say that in a few years the members of the profession insisted that, by reason of his knowledge of the law and his marked judicial temperament, he should retire from active practice and take the bench as judge of the first judicial circuit of Michigan. During the years he spent on the bench he was frequently urged to become a can- didate for Congress, but his modesty deterred him from being a candidate for any- thing, and more than all he did not like politics or political methods. They were dis- tasteful to him. He was always willing to undertake any position of responsibility, but never willing to seek it. This was his early temperament, and those of us who knew him are quite willing to agree that he has not changed. A few years ago, he was urged by members of the profession to accept a position as one of the judges of the Supreme Court of this state. This he would have liked. It was suited to his taste, but others wanted the place, and he would not scramble for office. No one doubted his fitness for the place. Since coming to the University as professor of Law, he has taught and lectured upon several subjects, giving his whole time to the work. When Professor Mechem went to Chicago University, Judge Lane was asked to take the subject of Constitu- tional Law, and in the past year there has come from the press a new edition of Cool- ey ' s Constitutional Limitations, edited by Judge Lane. This has been well received. It shows much intelligent and conscientious work. When our new law building was completed and the fund for enlarging and devel- oping our library became available Judge Lane was asked to become Law Librarian, plan the working library and bring order out of chaos. Faculty and students now know how well this was done, and I know from personal observation that this task cost him many months of patient toil. Mr. Lane is a thorough Christian gentleman. For many years he has been an active member of the Presbyterian church, and his example in the community of his labors is worth more to his associates, teachers and students than the wealth of learn- ing he has acquired and so ably imparts to others. J. C. KNOVVLTON.

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Judge Lane

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