December Spotlight – Hon. Mark Russo, Justice of the Peace, Rockwall County Pct. 3

Tell us a bit about yourself
I am originally from Canton, Ohio, and the rock singer Marilyn Manson was my neighbor (I believe the water is safe.) I have degrees in Culinary and Broadcasting.  For 20 years, I have also been a pro wrestler, worked in Radio and TV, as well as been involved in historic preservation. I am married to Nicole and have two amazing boys Alex and Lincoln.

In 2008 I was elected to Rockwall City Council and was selected as Mayor Pro-Tem in 2011. I then ran in 2012 for Justice of the Peace and won. I have been involved in JPCA and TAC since being elected and believe I get the weirdest cases TJCTC has ever heard of (Right Thea?!!). I have also served on various committees throughout the state.

Personally, I may be the most energetic and creative person you will ever meet. Truly passionate and I love people and making a difference in people’s lives. Every day should be an adventure!

What made you decide to become a Justice of the Peace?
I ran for a newly created Justice of the Peace position. Every aspect of this job energizes me. The Justice of the Peace position in Rockwall County is very diverse. Every day is different. This job allows me to be able to utilize different facets of my talents and challenges me every day! I enjoy coming up with out of the box solutions.

What is something innovative, interesting or fun your office does? During Christmas we honor the twelve days of Christmas and sometimes the Elf on the Shelf attacks the office.

What is the best part of your job?
The best part of my job is being able to make a difference in people’s lives. Every moment and interaction can have a positive impact on someone. I have found that I can make a big difference by taking a little extra time on the bench. It’s great to have a job you can love every day.

What makes a good judge? A positive attitude, humility, and willingness to be a good listener.

Legal Board Question of the Month

November 2019

Q. If a plaintiff comes in and asks if an address is in our precinct and we look it up and let them know which precinct it’s in, is that considered giving legal advice?

A. No, assisting a person in determining whether or not an address is in your precinct is not giving legal advice; it is giving factual information.  One way to do this is to help the person look up the address on a map showing the precinct boundaries or in some counties you can enter an address in a database and it will state which precinct that address is in. A court may assist a person in obtaining this factual information.