POULSBO — Jennifer Forbes of Poulsbo, a judge pro tem in three municipal courts and District Court, announced her candidacy Wednesday for Kitsap County Superior Court.
She is running for the position being vacated by Judge M. Karlynn Haberly, who announced her retirement Wednesday.
Forbes has tallied nearly 1,000 hours of pro tem work in the past seven years. In addition, she was recently elected president of the Kitsap County Bar Association.
Forbes was a prosecutor for 10 years, prosecuting violent felonies ranging from rapes to homicide. Since leaving the prosecutor’s office, she has maintained a general practice focusing on municipal law, civil and criminal litigation, land use, administrative hearings, and appeals. Her civil litigation experience includes personal injury, family law, and torts (both plaintiff and defense).
In addition to her judicial and legal experience, Forbes is an active member of Rotary, Puget Sound AIDS Foundation, WACAP, Friends of S.A.I.V.S, Leadership Kitsap, United Way, Seattle Red Cross, Youth Commission and a mentor with the Kitsap County Youth Court.
“The majority of my volunteer activities involve working with youth,” she said in a press release. “As a juvenile prosecutor, I had regular contact with youth who were failed by their parents or the justice system. It became important for me to become involved and to proactively work to improve the lives of Kitsap County youth.”
Forbes’ experience includes a wide range of judicial, legal and practical experience. “I believe I have been doing the job for which I am applying, and hope that my reputation on the bench for integrity, experience, and independence to be an open-minded judge will resonate with voters this fall.”
Forbes has been endorsed by more than 200 residents and officials, including Judge M. Karlynn Haberly, Judge Kate Carruthers, Judge Tarry Decker, Judge James Docter, retired Judge Terry McCluskey, state Rep. Jan Angel, County Assessor Jim Avery, Sheriff Steve Boyer, Bremerton Mayor Patty Lent, and Bremerton City Councilman Greg Wheeler. She is also endorsed by WSP Troopers Association District 8.
A graduate of Whitman College with her BA in 1993, Forbes earned her law degree from Seattle University School of Law in 1996, cum laude. Forbes is married to Rob Forbes, former chief of police of Bremerton. Rob and Jennifer Forbes live in Poulsbo.
