Ray Forbess, Candidate for County Court Judge

		Hello, my name is Ray Forbess, and I am running for Clay County Judge. Judge Collins is set to retire at the end of the year after three decades of public service to Clay County. Judge Collins can never be replaced, and the next elected Judge certainly has large shoes to fill. I am a resident of Green Cove Springs where I live with my wife, Sarah, and our six year old son Beau. I grew up spending time with my family at Camp Blanding and Kingsley Lake while my father was a Company Commander of the 20th Special Forces Group. I have many fond memories of spending my summers at Strickland’s Landing.  I am actively involved in the community with several nonprofits: youth mentor as a baseball coach, and a Special Olympics golf coach. I graduated from the University of North Florida with an Accounting degree and earned my Juris Doctorate from Florida Coastal School of Law in 2008 where I received a Pro Bono Service Award. I continue to provide well over 150 hours of Pro Bono work every year in private practice.  One thing I pride myself on is always working hard. Since the age of fifteen, I have held a job. I worked full time in college as a retail manager at C&H Lures and while in law school as a manager at Shooters Firearms where I assisted in teaching the concealed weapons class every Saturday morning.  My experiences working in family businesses will directly relate to the Civil cases I will be asked to preside over.  I am a member of the Clay County Bar Association, Jacksonville Bar Association, and practice in both State and Federal Court.  Upon passing the bar exam, I was sworn in as an Assistant State Attorney in April of 2009. My first full time assignment was in the very courtroom Judge Collins presides over to this day. I handled thousands of cases while assigned at the Clay County State Attorney’s Office. I had the opportunity to try cases in front of Judge Wilkes, Judge Collins, Judge Townsend, Judge Crenshaw, Judge Skinner, and Judge Lester. My first trial as a prosecutor was against Judge Whittington when he was in private practice as a defense attorney. I spent close to three years in the Clay County State Attorneys office. My time serving in Clay built relationships that I still hold to this day, but most importantly, I met my wife, Sarah (Clay High School Class of 2005).  One of my main focuses was narcotics related cases. I worked hand in hand with the Clay County Sheriff’s Office Organized Crime Unit on a daily basis. In 2011, I worked a long-term investigation that lead to the shut down of a large-scale Pill Mill Operation in Orange Park. The efforts in the case resulted in a Certificate of Appreciation from then Sheriff Beseler. Later in 2011, I was called to serve in the Duval County State Attorney’s Office in the Repeat Offender Division. This unit was a trial heavy division, prosecuting defendant’s that met certain criteria based on their lengthy prior records. I was then transferred to the Special Prosecution Unit where I was again able to focus on long term narcotics, gang, RICO, Wire Taps and Pill Mill investigations. I was also the full time on call prosecutor for the Clandestine Laboratory Unit of the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office that responded to every Methamphetamine Laboratory call out in the city. In this unit, I was assigned to the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Task Force. I was also able to work investigations with the FBI, Secret Service, Homeland Security, Border Patrol, ATF, U.S. Marshals Service, Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and other surrounding counties Sheriff’s Offices and Police Departments. Wrapping up my career in the State Attorney’s Office, I was assigned to the Homicide Major Crimes Unit. This unit handled homicides as well as any case involving a victim who was struck by gun fire. In 2015, I was recognized as the Homicide Prosecutor of the year by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office for my dedication to the victim’s, families, and detectives. In 2016, I went into private practice. The Forbess Law Firm handles primarily criminal cases in all the surrounding counties of Northeast Florida. I personally oversee almost every case in Clay County for the firm. On a daily basis as a defense attorney, I ensure that both the U.S. Constitution, Florida Constitution, and all Amendments are upheld. Each and every individual charged with a crime is entitled to a defense, and that is the service I provide. I am in a County Courtroom usually on a daily basis.   My favorite part of private practice is being involved in the various “Problem Solving” courtrooms. These courtrooms are reserved for clients who meet specific requirements to be eligible and go above and beyond to ensure individuals charged with a crime only come through the court system once. These programs include Veteran’s Treatment Court, Mental Health Court, Drug Court and Diversionary Programs. These programs are unique, in that they handle the appropriate punishment with a focus on rehabilitation and counseling. I filed to run for Clay County Judge to return to serve the citizens of Clay County. The citizens need a Judge who understands both sides of the law and can effectively run the courtroom. County Court is referred to as “The People’s Court,” for a reason. Everyday citizens appear there routinely often times representing themselves. I have the experience, proper attitude, and respect of our citizens to ensure every person coming into the courtroom has their day in court, regardless of the outcome.  To ensure you, the voter, that I am the right candidate for the job, I have been endorsed by our Public Safety Professionals, specifically Sheriff Michelle Cook and the Clay County Firefighters.  Please take the time to look at our campaign website, www.ForbessforJudge.com and our Facebook page at Ray Forbess for Judge. I look forward to the opportunity of serving the citizens and voters of Clay County as their next County Court Judge.