The son of John Rutledge and Elizabeth Sullivan, Rutledge was educated at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, earning a medical degree. He worked as a physician and surgeon. In 1919, Rutledge married Gladys Williams.^[2]

He was first elected to the Manitoba legislature in the 1927 provincial election,^[1] defeating Progressive candidate N.W.P. Shuttleworth by fourteen votes in the constituency of Minnedosa. Shuttleworth actually won a plurality of votes over Rutledge on the first count, but lost the seat following transfers from the third-place candidate. (Manitoba elections were determined by preferential balloting during this period.)

Rutledge was returned again in the 1932 election,^[1] defeating Liberal-Progressive candidate Neil Cameron by the increased margin of sixteen votes. He won his first convincing victory in the 1936 provincial election,^[1] defeating Liberal-Progressive candidate Henry Rungay by almost 300 votes.

The Conservative Party joined the Liberal-Progressives in a coalition government in 1940, and Rutledge served as a backbench supporter of John Bracken's government.^[1] He again defeated Henry Rungay in the 1941 provincial election, again by an increased margin. In 1945, he defeated^[1] a candidate of the CCF.

He resigned his seat on July 13, 1948.^[1]