About Lane Liroff

Throughout his long, distinguished career Lane has worked tirelessly to preserve and improve the justice system. His commitment is reflected in his contributions. He helped author six books on criminal law and ethics, and a software research program for lawyers. Lane is a frequent lecturer for lawyers and judges. He also taught police officers for fifteen years through his position at San Jose State University.

His numerous awards include Outstanding Instructor Award from Lincoln Law School in 1990 and 2001; the D.A.’s office Menard Trial Advocacy Award in 2003; Fellowship in the prestigious American College of Trial Lawyers in 2006. Fellow lawyers have rated his legal abilities and ethics at the highest level of professional excellence.

Lane served as President and Board Member of the Vanished Children’s Alliance from 1993 to 1999, an organization devoted to the recovery of missing and stolen children, and as a Board Member of the Charleston-Meadows Neighborhood Association from 2000-2007.  In 1996 Lane was honored for his work with Parents of Murdered Children.

Biographical Highlights

Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office
Deputy District Attorney, 1979 to 1998; 2000 to the present
Senior Trial Lawyer. Assigned since 1985 to prosecute complex murder cases.

U.S. Department of Justice, Criminal Division, Washington, D.C.
Trial Attorney, 1999
Staff attorney to Attorney General Janet Reno, assigned to Capital Case Unit. Responsibilities included preparation of confidential memorandum in federal death penalty cases, provide prosecution assistance in federal death penalty cases, and training to U.S. Attorneys who prosecute death penalty cases.

Lincoln University, School of Law, San Jose
Faculty Member, 1987 to 2005
Taught a two-semester course on trial procedures and was chair of the Faculty Senate.

Administration of Justice Bureau, San Jose State University
Adjunct Faculty, 1994 to the present
Taught police officers the proper investigation of murder cases.