Charles S. (Steve) Osburn was born in southeast Kansas, and graduated from high school in Newton, Kansas. He attended Emporia State University, obtaining a BSE in political science, and math. MR. Osburn taught high school for a couple of years, then tried his hand at being a police officer in Emporia, Kansas.
In 1991 he graduated from Washburn University Law School and joined a private firm in Manhattan, Kansas, where he was the Municipal Court prosecutor. After a few years in Manhattan, Mr. Osburn joined the Public Defender’s Office, first in Salina, then in Junction City. After three years he was made Chief Public defender in Garden City and Liberal, and in 1998 was made Chief Public Defender in Sedgwick County.
While leading the Sedgwick County Office Mr. Osburn supervised up to 24 attorneys and a staff of eleven. During his 17 years as the head of that office Mr. Osburn handled some of the most infamous cases in Wichita.
In 2015 Mr. Osburn left state employment and went into private practice. He was soon joined by Mr. Mueller and together they form two legs of the Wichita Municipal Court Public Defender, as well as handling criminal conflicts in Reno County.
Mr. Osburn enjoys traveling, and finds particular joy in his son, who makes him feel old, and young, at the same time.