Judge Ernst grew up in Traverse City, Michigan. She attended Michigan State University, where she obtained her degree in Political Theory, as well as her law degree. She moved to Colorado in 2004 with her husband, who was stationed at Ft. Carson.
She was a deputy public defender for the Colorado Public Defender’s Office from 2005 to 2011. She was then in private practice with the law firm of Becker & Ernst until her appointment to the bench in December 2016. She practiced primarily criminal and family law.
Judge Ernst and her husband enjoying traveling and camping in their spare time.