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The Honorable S. Bernard Goodwyn, chief justice of the Supreme Court of Virginia, has announced his intention to retire effective Jan, 1, 2026. 

A Friday, Jan. 31, news release from the court noted that Goodwyn, who is from Southampton County, was elected chief justice by the justices of the Supreme Court of Virginia for a term commencing on Jan. 1, 2022, and his retirement will coincide with the end of his current term as chief justice of the court. 

Goodwyn was appointed to the Supreme Court of Virginia by Gov. Timothy M. Kaine in 2007 and was unanimously elected by the General Assembly to the Supreme Court of Virginia in 2008 and reelected in 2020.