District Attorney Wes Lane on September 5, 2001 walking to address the local and national press concerning his decision to continue the prosecution of the Terry Nichols case. Wall writing was by rescue team members in the aftermath of the Murrah building bombing April 19, 1995. (AP photo by J. Pat Carter)

Born and raised in Oklahoma City, Wes received his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Oklahoma.

Wes served for over two decades as an Oklahoma County prosecutor.  During his tenure, he accumulated an exceptional trial record, winning about ninety-five percent of his jury trials.  His career as an Oklahoma County prosecutor began in January of 1981 while he was a law student and landed a legal internship in the Oklahoma County District Attorney’s Office.  After graduation in 1981, he was appointed Assistant District Attorney by Robert H. Macy. In July of 2001, Governor Frank Keating appointed Wes to fill the unexpired term of retiring Robert H. Macy. Wes  was honored to be elected District Attorney in the fall of 2002 and served another four years in that capacity.

Recognized as “Prosecutor of the Year” in 2003 by the Oklahoma Gang Investigator’s Association and for “Courage in the Pursuit of Justice” by his fellow District Attorneys across the state, Wes served as the President of the Oklahoma District Attorney’s Association in 2005 and as Vice-President of the National District Attorney’s Association.

In January of 2008, Wes became President of the Burbridge Foundation, a Christian foundation dedicated to offering solutions to prevalent cultural problems that are impacting our families and our communities. In early 2009, Wes brought to Oklahoma the methamphetamine television documentary “Crystal Darkness” which had between 1.5 and 2 million Oklahoma viewers and spawned community town hall meetings across the state on the subject of substance abuse prevention. Along with other Oklahoma City leaders, he founded Salt and Light Leadership Training (SALLT), a Christian leadership development program dedicated to helping Christian leaders maximize their service to God and their city.

Wes is married to Dr. Lori Hansen Lane, a facial plastic surgeon. They have one child, Derrick, an Oklahoma County deputy sheriff who has served his country on two tours of duty in the Middle East with the Army National Guard.