The recent obituary for the Hon. John P. Lane, retired State Court Justice, reminded me of why I’ve spent so many years being disappointed – all too often – by my interactions with the average municipal attorney or judge.
John Lane was a man of integrity; decent, honest, and intelligent.
When he was opposing counsel in a Town of Amherst matter, he didn’t play tricks. He was as interested as I was in getting disputes resolved efficiently and fairly. He actually addressed – in his court papers, and during oral argument – the issues I raised on behalf of my clients. When we disagreed on the meaning of a zoning provision or SEQRA requirement, he expressed his opposition firmly but respectfully. And, he was willing to admit if his municipal client was in the wrong.
Justice John P. Lane exhibited the same characteristics when sitting on the bench.
He showed respect to everyone in the courtroom. He thoroughly knew and understood land use and environmental laws. And, importantly, he was willing to look beyond the reasoning and excuses presented by municipal attorneys and developers’ lawyers, to determine what had actually happened during the decision-making process.
Most importantly, Justice Lane was willing to make an unpopular decision when the law and the facts demanded it. [See one example: Price v. Common Council Sup.Ct. Erie Co. 2004.]
John Lane set the bar high. He will be missed.
With All Due Respect,
Art Giacalone
With All Due Respect 
Hi Art,
Nice to hear that there were still some of the good guys out there who had not succumbed to the big developer dollars. I know Peggy Santillo had great respect for him.
Mary Lowther
Thank you, Mary, for your post and for sharing you colleagues kind remarks about our father.
Thank you, Art, for your kind words about our father. It is always heart warming to read comments affirming the public servant my father was; his dedication to serving the citizens of Amherst and the western district of NYS.
It may be of interest to you to know that Dad also was on the Erie County Library Board tasked with determining which branches to close, during the recession in the 1990s. Through diligent hard work in the evenings and on weekends, they successfully implemented a plan keeping more branches open than had been requested.
I clerked for your dad as a legal fellow my first year after law school (2003-2004), and he had a big impression on me. Was actually just mentioning him to my wife today. When I was struggling to draft an opinion or memo later into the afternoon/evening, he would tell me my mind would think clearer “at the dawn’s early light.” We were from different generations and different backgrounds, but he connected with me, made me feel like I was just an able a lawyer and thinker as he or the attorneys in the courtroom were. Instilled confidence in me as a young lawyer. I am now a public servant myself, and I will always remember the way Judge Lane served.