Houston County Circuit Court Judge Lawson Little served his last day working as a judge in the Houston County Courthouse today. Little, a native of Luverne, followed in the footsteps of his father, who also worked as an attorney and served as a judge, but in Crenshaw County. Little earned his undergraduate degree from Troy University and earned his law degree from the University of Alabama. He started his career as an attorney in the Alabama Attorney Generals Office in 1973 where he worked for six years. In 1979 Little started a two-year stint as the chief assistant district attorney in the Houston County District Attorneys Office. In 1981 he went into private practice with Jim Parkman. Little was appointed by the governor to serve as a circuit court judge in Houston County on Jan. 17, 1995. Little also served a US Magistrate judge on a part-time basis for six years earlier in his career. Little later became the first recipient of the Jerry M. White award given by Victims of Crime and Leniency (VOCAL) for judicial excellence in 2005-2006. Alabama Governor Bob Riley will soon be called upon to appoint a replacement to fill Littles judgeship. Judge Little will be greatly missed from the court house, this afternoon surrounded by family and friends Judge Little was given a plaque for his years of service.