Russell participated in mock trial since he was a wee high school freshman. His senior year he helped drive his team to a Washington state championship and the national tournament in Dallas, where they finished 16th. He helped found the UW’s mock trial club with his good friend Nick Crown and the UW Mock Trial grandfather, Cory Potts.

After spending multiple summers at Seattle's Woodland Park Zoo, Russell has moved down south to Texas to be a keeper at the Dallas Zoo.