The Honorable Ernest J. Jarrett was born in Kingstree, South Carolina to William “Billy” Jarrett and Mattie “Beezie” Jarrett.”

Judge Jarrett graduated from Williamsburg Academy in 1985, going on to attend Wofford College, obtaining a Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1989. In 1992, Judge Jarrett received his Juris Doctor degree from the University of South Carolina School of Law.

Following law school graduation, Judge Jarrett returned to his hometown of Kingstree, where he was the managing partner of Jenkinson, Jarrett and Kellahan, P.A. Judge Jarrett spent his 28 years practicing primarily family law and was selected by his peers as one of the Super Lawyers by Super Lawyer magazine in 2020.

Judge Jarrett has served on the Williamsburg County Bar Association, the Georgetown County Bar Association, the South Carolina Association for Justice, the Family Law Section Council of the South Carolina Bar, the Supreme Court Commission on Docketing – Family Court Committee, the South Carolina Bench-Bar Committee, and the South Carolina Bar Resolution of Fee Disputes Board. In 2018 – 2019, Judge Jarrett served as Chairperson of the Family Law Section Council of the South Carolina Bar.

Judge Jarrett is actively involved in his community. He has been President of Kingstree Rotary, served on the Williamsburg County First Steps Board, and served on the Tri-County Regional Development Board. He is an active member of Kingstree United Methodist Church.

He is married to Josette Jarrett and they have three children, Kyle, Katie and Winston, and two granddaughters Scottie and Evie.

Judge Jarrett was elected by the South Carolina Legislature as a Family Court Judge, Third Judicial Circuit, to fill the term of the Honorable Gordon B. Jenkinson who retired.