CIRCUIT COURT JUDGES

CIRCUIT 9

(Berkeley and Charleston Counties)

/ JUDGE: Deadra L. Jefferson
CIRCUIT: 9
GENDER: Female
BIRTHDATE:
RACE: African American
EDUCATION: BA (Politics & English) - Converse College (1985); JD – Univ. of South Carolina (1989)
Judge Jefferson has been admitted to practice law in South Carolina and in all SC Courts and the US District Court for the District of SC. Upon graduating from law school Judge Jefferson was the law Clerk to the Hon. Richard E. Fields, retired Judge for the Circuit Courts of SC, 9th Circuit, Charleston from 1989 through 1990. After completing her tenure with Judge Fields she began in private practice with the law firm of McFarland and Jenkins and continued with the law firm of McFarland and Associates until elected to the position of Resident Family Court Judge for the Ninth Judicial Circuit on February 14, 1996. She served in that position from 1996 to 2001. She was elected to the position of Resident Circuit Judge for the Ninth Judicial Circuit on May 30, 2001.
/ JUDGE: Kristi Lea Harrington
CIRCUIT: 9
GENDER: Female
BIRTHDATE: April 4, 1969
RACE: Caucasian
EDUCATION: BA (English) - Francis Marion Univ. (1991); JD – Univ. of Tulsa (1996)
She was admitted to the practice of law in Oklahoma in 1996, in South Carolina in 2001, and in the US District Court for the District of SC in 2004. She began her legal career as an intern in the Tulsa County District Attorney’s Office. In 2000, Judge Harrington returned to South Carolina worked in her father's law office. Judge Harrington was employed by the Ninth Circuit Solicitor’s Office from 2002 until her election to the Bench. Judge Harrington was elected by the SC General Assembly on February 6, 2008, to the position of Resident Circuit Judge for the Ninth Judicial Circuit.
/ JUDGE: Roger M. Young, Sr.
CIRCUIT: 9
GENDER: Male
BIRTHDATE:
RACE: Caucasian
EDUCATION: BS - Charleston Southern University (1980); JD – Univ. of South Carolina (1983)
Judge Young went inot private practice after graduating from law school. While in private practice, Judge Young served as a Municipal Judge for the City of North Charleston from 1988-90. He was elected to the SC House of Representatives in 1990 and served two terms. He was Master-in-Equity for Charleston County from 1996 until he was elected to the Circuit Court in 2003.
/ JUDGE: Stephanie P. McDonald
CIRCUIT: 9 (at large)
GENDER: Female
BIRTHDATE: January 14, 1969
RACE: Caucasian
EDUCATION: BS - Univ. of South Carolina (1991); JD – Univ. of South Carolina (1994)
While attending law school, Stephanie worked as a law clerk for the South Carolina Senate Judiciary Committee. After graduation and prior to her election to the bench, Stephanie returned home to Charleston and practiced law involving civil litigation for over fourteen years. In addition to civil litigation, her practice focused on a variety of appellate matters in state and federal courts. She was elected by the General Assembly to the position of Circuit Judge, At-Large, Seat 9 on February 2, 2011.