From 2007 to 2009, Forrest was in private practice with the law firm Stoel Rives in Portland, with a brief stint in 2008 as a law clerk for judge Diarmuid O'Scannlain of the Ninth Circuit.[3] From 2009 to 2017, Forrest was in practice at the Portland, Oregon law firm Larkins Vacura Kayser, becoming a partner in 2014.[4]
On November 9, 2017, Oregon GovernorKate Brown announced the appointment of Forrest to the Washington CountyCircuit Court to the seat vacated by Suzanne M. Upton, effective immediately.[5] She resigned her post when she was elevated to be a federal Circuit Court judge.
Federal judicial service
Forrest was one of four individuals recommended for the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit by Oregon's two U.S. Senators, Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley.[6] Wyden and Merkley had both opposed Ryan Bounds, President Donald Trump's previous nominee to the Ninth Circuit seat, but agreed to turn in their blue slips for Forrest.[7] On August 28, 2019, President Trump announced his intent to nominate Forrest to serve as a United States Circuit Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.[4] On September 19, 2019, her nomination was sent to the United States Senate. She was nominated to fill the seat vacated by Judge Diarmuid O'Scannlain, who assumed senior status on December 31, 2016.[8] On September 25, 2019, a hearing on her nomination was held before the Senate Judiciary Committee.[9] On October 24, 2019, her nomination was reported out of committee by a 16–6 vote.[10] On November 5, 2019, the Senate invoked cloture on her nomination by a 75–18 vote.[11] On November 6, 2019, her nomination was confirmed by a 73–17 vote.[12] She received her judicial commission on November 12, 2019.[13] Her surname in court records changed from Hunsaker to Forrest in May 2021.[14]
Memberships
She was a member of the Federalist Society from 2002 to 2006 and again from 2017 to present.[1]