Lane To Hang Up His Robe
Quick Succession Hoped For Exiting Circuit Judge
Posted: October 3, 2012
HARRISONBURG — Rockingham County Circuit Court Judge James Lane announced Tuesday that he plans to retire from the bench next summer.
In an email sent to the Harrisonburg-Rockingham County Bar Association, Lane stated his retirement will be effective July 1.
“He has been an excellent judge for our community and he will be greatly missed,” said Rockingham County Commonwealth’s Attorney Marsha Garst.
Sen. Mark Obenshain, R-Harrisonburg, said Lane has served the community well for a decade.
“Judge Lane has been an outstanding jurist,” said Obenshain, adding that being a judge is often a difficult job. “He’s done what we expected him to do: try to get it right.”
Attempts to reach Lane for comment were unsuccessful.
Lane graduated from the University of Baltimore Law School and was admitted to the Maryland Bar Association in 1972.
After a year serving as a clerk at the Maryland Court of Appeals, he moved to the Shenandoah Valley in August 1973 and joined the law firm of Litten & Sipe in Harrisonburg. He was made a partner in 1979.
He spent the first 10 years there practicing general law before focusing on civil litigation, handling mostly personal injury cases.
In 2001, Lane was chosen to replace the late Judge Porter Graves on the 26th Judicial Circuit bench.
With Lane’s retirement in July, Judge T.J. Wilson will become the senior judge.
Replacing Lane
Grant Penrod, president of the local bar association, said the process to replace Lane will begin shortly.
Traditionally, attorneys looking to fill the spot make presentations to the bar association, before its members vote on a recommendation to the General Assembly, which elects judges.
The bar’s recommendations are sent to Obenshain because he’s the senator who represents the district. He then presents them to the General Assembly for consideration.
Over the last few years, judgeship vacancies have rarely been filled quickly. Penrod said he’s hopeful legislators break from that pattern and act on Lane’s spot promptly.
“Our challenge locally has been to make sure that when one of our judges retires that we make sure they are replaced,” he said.
Lane generally handles only cases in Rockingham County, splitting the docket with Wilson, who typically handles all of Page County’s cases.
Because of the heavy caseload, a prolonged delay in naming Lane’s replacement would be a problem, Penrod said.
“I don’t know how any judge could cover both jurisdictions alone,” he said.
Obenshain said he anticipates that the General Assembly will name a replacement during the 45-day session that begins Jan. 10.
The 26th District also includes circuit courts in Clarke, Frederick, Shenandoah and Warren counties and the city of Winchester.
Contact Pete DeLea at 574-6278 or pdelea@dnronline.com
In an email sent to the Harrisonburg-Rockingham County Bar Association, Lane stated his retirement will be effective July 1.
“He has been an excellent judge for our community and he will be greatly missed,” said Rockingham County Commonwealth’s Attorney Marsha Garst.
Sen. Mark Obenshain, R-Harrisonburg, said Lane has served the community well for a decade.
“Judge Lane has been an outstanding jurist,” said Obenshain, adding that being a judge is often a difficult job. “He’s done what we expected him to do: try to get it right.”
Attempts to reach Lane for comment were unsuccessful.
Lane graduated from the University of Baltimore Law School and was admitted to the Maryland Bar Association in 1972.
After a year serving as a clerk at the Maryland Court of Appeals, he moved to the Shenandoah Valley in August 1973 and joined the law firm of Litten & Sipe in Harrisonburg. He was made a partner in 1979.
He spent the first 10 years there practicing general law before focusing on civil litigation, handling mostly personal injury cases.
In 2001, Lane was chosen to replace the late Judge Porter Graves on the 26th Judicial Circuit bench.
With Lane’s retirement in July, Judge T.J. Wilson will become the senior judge.
Replacing Lane
Grant Penrod, president of the local bar association, said the process to replace Lane will begin shortly.
Traditionally, attorneys looking to fill the spot make presentations to the bar association, before its members vote on a recommendation to the General Assembly, which elects judges.
The bar’s recommendations are sent to Obenshain because he’s the senator who represents the district. He then presents them to the General Assembly for consideration.
Over the last few years, judgeship vacancies have rarely been filled quickly. Penrod said he’s hopeful legislators break from that pattern and act on Lane’s spot promptly.
“Our challenge locally has been to make sure that when one of our judges retires that we make sure they are replaced,” he said.
Lane generally handles only cases in Rockingham County, splitting the docket with Wilson, who typically handles all of Page County’s cases.
Because of the heavy caseload, a prolonged delay in naming Lane’s replacement would be a problem, Penrod said.
“I don’t know how any judge could cover both jurisdictions alone,” he said.
Obenshain said he anticipates that the General Assembly will name a replacement during the 45-day session that begins Jan. 10.
The 26th District also includes circuit courts in Clarke, Frederick, Shenandoah and Warren counties and the city of Winchester.
Contact Pete DeLea at 574-6278 or pdelea@dnronline.com