Born in
Louisville, Kentucky, Russell received a
Bachelor of Arts degree from
Western Kentucky University in 1967 and a
Juris Doctor from the
University of Kentucky College of Law in 1970. He was in private practice in
Paducah, Kentucky from 1970 to 1994.
Federal judicial service On September 14, 1994, Russell was nominated by President
Bill Clinton to a seat on the
United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky vacated by
Edward Huggins Johnstone. Russell was confirmed by the
United States Senate on October 7, 1994, and received his commission on October 11, 1994. He served as Chief Judge from 2008 to 2011. He took
senior status on November 15, 2011. He served as a judge of the
United States Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court from 2015 to 2022. He served as a judge of the
Alien Terrorist Removal Court from 2016 to 2021. He retired from active service on September 1, 2023. ==References==