Local named to Mississippi governor's legal team

By Staff
Melissa Dozier-Cason, FCT Writer
JACKSON, Miss. – A Mississippi man with local ties is looking forward to the challenges he will face as legal advisor to the governor.
Colby Lane, 32, a Brandon, Miss. attorney, was named Counsel to Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour in December, replacing Joe Nosef, who stepped down from the position.
Lane is married to Erin Lane and the couple has one son, Patten. He is the son of Hite and Judy Lane of Brandon, Miss., and the grandson of Marguerite Nicholson and the late James Nicholson, both of Russellville.
"I am real proud of him but I know the job will be a challenge for him as well," Nicholson said.
His mother, Judy Lane, is a graduate of Russellville High School.
Barbour's spokesman Pete Smith said that Lane's experience helped him obtain the post.
Prior to joining the governor's staff, Lane worked as an Assistant U.S. attorney in Jackson, Miss., where he prosecuted violent and white-collar crimes. He was employed by the Wilmer, Cutler and Pickering law firm in Washington, D.C. after law school.
Lane is a 1992 graduate of Brandon High School. He graduated magna cum laude from Millsaps College and received his law degree from Harvard Law School.
"I am confident his legal counsel will be beneficial to both my administration and the people of Mississippi," Barbour said in a statement.
Lane will advise the governor on legal issues pertaining to new legislation and advise on issues dealing with agencies that report to Barbour.
"From what I can tell, it's a fast-paced environment and lawyers do a lot of different things," Lane said. "One of the things that I like about the law is that I can learn something new everyday."
Lane said taking the position enables him to better serve the people of the state. He and his wife moved back to Mississippi three years ago after Lane took the job at the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Lane declined to discuss any future political ambitions.