A former dean of Willamette University's law school, he served as the 6th Attorney General of Oregon for 23 years.

[3] On September 3, 1902, Isaac married Lella Velvetta Parrish, and they had one daughter named Rosalind.

[2] In 1904, Van Winkle began serving as an assistant attorney general for Oregon, remaining in the post until 1920 (though not from 1913 to 1915).

[5] Van Winkle's 23 years as Oregon's top lawyer are the longest of any attorney general in the state's history.

[5] In 1938, he ran for a position on the Oregon Supreme Court, but lost and remained as Attorney General.