Mills Lane

[bradlee180]

From late-1998 to 2001, Mills Lane's tv series, "Judge Mills Lane" was on the air, and it was all small-claims stuff.

From 1991 to mid-1998 however, Mills Lane was the real deal; he was the Nevada District Court Judge. Mills was the big man. Two terms.
Not small claims at that level; that's sentencing murderers there.
And Mills put away a lot of people.
He was even approached about running for Governor during that period.

Boxing programs in the early 90's, LONG BEFORE the tv series ever happened, would occasionally make mention that Referee Mills Lane was a Nevada District Judge; they'd show clips of him in the court-room.

Before becoming District Judge in 1991, Mills was the DA (District Attorney) in Reno from 1983 to 1991.

Before that, a prosecutor during the 70's.

Referees don't get paid much money y'know, even for a big fight.
$600, $800.
Basically all these referees on tv work day-jobs.

In mid-1998, Lane was 60 years old, had just stepped down as Nevada District Judge after two terms, and began the small-claims lightweight "Judge Mills Lane" tv series.
At 60 years old, maybe Mills had enough of dealing with the absolute worst segment of society on a daily basis for a few decades.
Deal with minor grievances in a televised small-claims court instead.


Here's a New York Times article about Mills from July, 1997 BEFORE the tv series of 1998:

No-Nonsense Judge And Tough Guy, Fight Ref Mills Lane Takes No Guff - New York Times

Recent article about Mills and his 2002 stroke:
http://www.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_10991963


EDIT:
Here's Mills' Pro boxing record from Boxrec:
Mills Lane