Born in Arlington, Massachusetts, Lane received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Princeton University in 1934.
He was in the United States Navy as a Commanding Officer from 1942 to 1946.
[2] Lane was the Republican nominee for New Jersey Senate in 1953, but lost to Democrat Sido L. Ridolfi; Lane and Ridolfi had attended Princeton and Harvard Law at the same time.
[3] Lane was nominated by President Dwight D. Eisenhower on June 17, 1960, to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey vacated by Judge Phillip Forman.
He was a member of the New Jersey State Commission of Investigation from 1977 to 1985.