Jefferson County resident and current Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney, Ralph A. Lorenzetti, filed his candidacy papers today to run for Circuit Judge for the 23rd Circuit.

Lorenzetti has been the elected Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney since 2008.

Lorenzetti, an Arlington, Virginia native, has called Jefferson County his home since 1982 when he moved here with his young family. Lorenzetti received his undergraduate degree from Virginia Tech in Civil Engineering, holds a Master’s Degree in Environmental Engineering from Wayne State, and completed his Law School degree from West Virginia University School of Law. He is a licensed Professional engineer and has been a member of the West Virginia bar since 1981.

Lorenzetti, as a member of an interested team of citizens from Jefferson, Morgan and Berkeley counties, supported and maintained the Community Corrections Board/Day Report Center, Teen Court, Juvenile Drug Court and Adult Drug Court. Lorenzetti champions the Community Correction Programs, and also sees a need for greater input for the victims of crime. He serves on the Board of Directors of the WV State Prosecuting Attorney’s Association and is the current West Virginia Representative to the National District Attorneys Association.

Mr. Lorenzetti is a life member of the American Society of Civil Engineers and a member of the National Civil Engineering Honorary Fraternity – Chi Epsilon.

Lorenzetti has been involved in community programs since moving to the Eastern Panhandle and his children were small. He coached Little League and AYSO soccer, and when the boys were in high school, he coached golf and lacrosse. He has been involved with the Old Opera House (local community theatre) for many years, and currently serves on the OOH’s Board of Directors as the treasurer. Other past and present community activities include involvement with Focus (Free Our Community of Unwanted Substances) Coalition, service as an active Board member of the AHEC association (Area Health Education Consortium), membership in his local Home Owner’s Association, participation as an active parishioner of St. James Catholic Church in Charles Town, as well as serving as a past Lieutenant Governor of Kiwanis and current involvement as an active Kiwanis member for over 25 yrs. Lorenzetti served as an Officer in the U.S. Army National Guard in West Virginia after graduating from ROTC and the US Army Engineer Officer School.

Lorenzetti began his law career in Harrison County, West Virginia after graduation from West Virginia University Law School. The family moved to Jefferson County in 1982 so his wife could begin her medical practice in Harpers Ferry/Bolivar, and Ralph set up practice as a private attorney in Charles Town. After several years in private practice of law, he was appointed as an assistant prosecutor, and practiced in this capacity until his election to Prosecuting Attorney in 2008. During his law career, he has litigated cases before West Virginia Courts, the WV State Supreme Court, and the U.S. District Court, involving civil, criminal as well as domestic matters. He also served the citizens of Jefferson County as a Probate Commissioner for many years.

He has been married for the last 39 years to Dr. Rosie Cannarella Lorenzetti and they have two grown and married sons; Jason, an Environmental engineer and Adam, an Orthopedic surgeon.