[3] He graduated from the University of Alabama in 1933, where he was a member of the Phi Beta Kappa and Sigma Chi fraternities,[4][5] and later served in the United States Army Air Forces in World War II, reaching the rank of lieutenant colonel.
[5][6] However, he eventually withdrew from the race in order to serve in the military for World War II.
[7] Considered a promising prospect for the office for many years, he was eventually elected as Attorney General in 1951.
[7][3] On July 12, 1954, Garrett was indicted and arrested on one count of voter fraud alleged to have occurred in the Democratic primary election for Attorney General of June 1, 1954.
His charges were dropped by then-Attorney General Richmond Flowers,[5] because Garrett was convalescing in a mental institution in Texas for most of the year after Patterson's murder.