Hon. Joseph J. Bruzzese

Joseph J. Bruzzese Jr. is a seasoned judge who has served on the Jefferson County Court of Common Pleas in Steubenville, Ohio since 1998. A graduate of Ohio Northern University, he earned both his bachelor's degree and his Juris Doctor from the institution. Bruzzese was re-elected unopposed in 2014, securing a term that expired in February 2021. In August 2017, he survived an ambush attack outside the courthouse, was hospitalized, and returned to the bench in October of the same year. Throughout his tenure, he has presided over a wide range of civil and criminal matters, demonstrating resilience and dedication to the Ohio judiciary.