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Longest serving US magistrate judge retires today
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June 14, 2011
Texas: U.S. magistrate judge Philip Lane retires today. He has served the Abilene and San Angelo area on the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas since 1971. With over forty years on the bench, he is the longest serving magistrate in the history of federal judiciary. Speaking on Lane's tenure U.S. attorney Scott Frost said "He definitely set the mark high. It's unheard of to be on the bench for 40 years.[1]
Judge Lane received his undergraduate degree from the Air Force Academy and his J.D. from the University of Texas Law School.[2] Before becoming a magistrate Lane was a pilot in the Air Force. Then, in 1969 he went on to join Marshall, Hall, McLaughlin and Lane Law Firm of San Angelo until he was sworn in to the magistrate bench. "As magistrate, Lane presided over all preliminary hearings for federal crimes in the San Angelo and Abilene area and all civil matters and cases where both parties consent.[1]" He is a member of the Tom Green County Bar Association, the Abilene Bar Association, and the State Bar of Texas.
A retirement ceremony was held last week at The O.C. Fisher Federal Building Courthouse where he was presented with a portrait.
A multi phase selection process will now begin to find a replacement for Lane.
See also
- United States Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit
- Northern District of Texas
- Federal magistrate judge
External links
Footnotes
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