Russell Withers serves as Director of Policy and General Counsel at TCCRI. He holds an undergraduate degree in Government and English from the University of Texas at Austin and a J.D. from Tulane University School of Law in New Orleans. Russell served on the policy team for the Greg Abbott campaign for Governor in 2014 and 2018, and regularly assists members of the Texas Legislature on questions of public policy. He has testified before numerous committees in the Texas Legislature on a broad range of topics and authored opinion editorials on Texas politics and public policy. His works have appeared in National Review, the Austin American Statesman, TCCRI's LIFT Perspectives, and others. Russell is an active member in the Austin Lawyers Chapter of the Federalist Society and has organized events as well as presented and participated in them.