Judge Rossi was elected to the 17th Circuit Court in Kent County in November 2016, officially beginning his judicial service on January 1, 2017. He earned a degree in English from the University of Notre Dame (1988) and a Juris Doctorate (1995). Before attending law school, Judge Rossi served as an infantry officer in the U.S. Marine Corps, where he gained combat experience in Operation Desert Storm. His final military role was at the Pentagon, working under the director of global special operations and counterterrorism. He retired as a lieutenant colonel in 2012. Judge Rossi currently serves in the Civil-Criminal division of the Circuit Court and founded Kent County’s Treatment and Support Court, designed to connect individuals with substance use and mental health care while aiming to reduce the need for incarceration. He also serves on the board of Alternative Directions, a residential program for men in Grand Rapids.