CA Harvey Bryant to retire next year

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) - After 12 years in office, Commonwealth's Attorney Harvey Bryant announced Monday he will be retiring at the end of 2013.

According to a statement released by the Office of the Commonwealth's Attorney's Office, by the time he retires, Bryant will have practiced law for more than 39 years.

Bryant began his legal career in 1974 in Virginia Beach, working as an associate at a Virginia Beach law firm then moved to Norfolk in 1979 and served as an associate and then a partner at Rabinowitz, Rafal and Swartz.

Bryant was nominated deputy Commonwealth's attorney of Norfolk for four years in the late 70s. Bryant then moved to the U.S. Attorney’s Office Eastern District of Virginia encompassing Norfolk and Newport News from 1987 through 2000.

In 2000, Bryant was unanimously appointed to the Virginia Beach Commonwealth's Attorney's Office, elected in a special election in 2000 and re-elected in general elections in 2001, 2005 and 2009.

Bryant oversees a staff of 37 attorneys and a staff of more than 80.

“These are, in my mind and experience, the best folks anyone could ask to work with," Bryant said in a statement Monday.

Bryant will continue his duties with the Commonwealth's Attorney's Office through 2013, as well as his membership in the National District Attorneys Association Board of Directors, Virginia Criminal Sentencing Commission and the Commonwealth’s Attorneys’ Services Council.