Since November 2000, James P. Mazzone has proudly served as Circuit Judge of the First Judicial Circuit of West Virginia, which encompasses Hancock, Brooke, and Ohio Counties. At age 40, Judge Mazzone is the youngest Circuit Court Judge in the State of West Virginia. Before being elected Judge, Mazzone practiced law in Wheeling and Weirton for 12 years. He received his undergraduate degree in Accounting in 1985 from West Virginia University and his Juris Doctrate degree in 1988 from the WVU College of Law. While in law school, Mazzone served as president of the Law Counsel, was a member of the Lugar Trial Association, the International Moot Court Team, the Order of the Barristers, and the Student Bar Association. He attended St. Paul's Catholic Grade School in Weirton and graduated from (Weirton) Madonna High School in 1981.

In January 2002, Mazzone was appointed by the Chief Justice of the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals to serve as a temporary justice to the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals. He is a member of the Hancock, Brooke, and Ohio County Bar Associations, the West Virginia State Bar Association, the American Bar Association, and the West Virginia Judicial Association.

Mazzone is a member of the Sons of Italy, Italian Sons & Daughters of America - Weirtonian Lodge, Follansbee Garibaldi Lodge, Wheeling Lions Club, Weirton Knights of Columbus, 3rd & 4th Degree. He also served as Trustee, Advocate, Deputy Grand Knight and Grand Knight (1998-2000) of the Weirton Knights of Columbus. Mazzone and his family are members of St. Paul Catholic Church in Weirton, where he is a member of the Holy Name Society.

Judge Mazzone is married to the former Roxanne Taibi of Follansbee. Jim and Roxanne have three children, Maria (6), Jimmy (4), and Gabrielle (1). He is the son of Anthony and Mary Mazzone of Weirton.