Forrest was born in Greensboro, North Carolina. He attended public schools and graduated from High Point University and the Law School at the University of North Carolina.

Following his graduation from law school, Forrest practiced law in Hickory until he was elected as a Superior Court Judge in 1975. He then served as a Superior Court Judge for twenty-four years where he presided over hundreds of complicated civil and criminal trials throughout the State. During his time on the bench, Forrest was appointed to several state commissions by Chief Justices of the North Carolina Bar Association, a North Carolina State Bar Councilor, a Member of the North Carolina Judicial Standards Commission, and on several committees of the North Carolina Bar Association.

Following his retirement from the bench, Forrest joined the firm where he has handled a variety of civil and criminal matters. Forrest focuses his practice on the representation of clients in eminent domain, estate, business, wrongful death and other civil litigation matters in both State and Federal Courts. Forrest is also a North Carolina Certified Superior Court Mediator and has mediated hundreds of cases since joining the firm. He frequently presents to other attorneys at seminars dealing with eminent domain, attorney ethics and other topics. Forrest holds an AV®Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell.