Leslie M. Osborn, Chief Judge of the 10th Judicial Circuit has announced that he will retire from the bench effective Dec. 31.

A native of Cumberland County, Judge Osborn attended the University of Richmond and studied law at the T. C. Williams Law School and the University of Kent at Canterbury. While an undergraduate and in law school he worked for the law firm of Allen, Allen, Allen and Allen. A summer internship with Frank D. Harris, Commonwealth Attorney of Mecklenburg County, led to an offer to open an office in Kenbridge in 1978 for the firm of Harris & Matthews, later Harris, Matthews & Osborn.

Judge Osborn practiced with that firm until May 2000 when he was elected as a judge of the 10th Judicial Circuit which includes Appomattox, Buckingham, Cumberland, Charlotte, Halifax, Lunenburg, Mecklenburg and Prince Edward counties.

“It has been and honor and a privilege for me to serve the citizens of Mecklenburg, Lunenburg and the other counties of the circuit,” stated Osborne.