Rusty was born in Grenada, Mississippi in 1962 and has been a lifelong resident of the Grenada area. He received his Bachelor's degree in Business Administration in 1984 from Delta State University and his J.D. from the University of Mississippi School of Law in 1987.

Licensed to practice in all state and federal courts in Mississippi, Rusty is very active in several bar associations. He is a member of the Grenada County and American Bar Associations as well as the Mississippi Bar where he served as president of the Young Lawyers Division from 1997-98. He is also a member of both the Mississippi Trial Lawyers Association and the Association of Trial Lawyers of America.

The father of two, Rusty currently serves as the Prosecutor for the City of Grenada as well as Municipal Judge for the City of Coffeville. In his spare time, he loves to play tennis, racquetball, workout, and travel.