Bobby Forrest Jr. is a proud native of Jacksonville, Arkansas, with deep family roots in Earle, Arkansas. Raised by a single mother alongside three sisters, Bobby’s early life was shaped by faith, resilience, and hard-earned lessons. Growing up in public housing, with a father incarcerated for most of his life, Bobby’s path was anything but easy. Yet, those challenges planted the seeds for his passion for justice. At the age of 10, Bobby was baptized at a neighborhood church that he walked to on his own. His mother, having dreams of her own to become a forensic scientist, never really had the chance. He and his mother would watch cop shows every night together. Bobby knew that when he grew up, he wanted to be a cop. But growing up in an impoverished community, the real challenge was how to make it out alive and without being incarcerated.
By 14, he was arrested for the first time. At 16, it happened again. But instead of being defined by his mistakes, he was given another chance by Judge Wiley Branton Jr. — a moment that changed the course of his life. Bobby went on to graduate from Jacksonville High School. He immediately joined the Army National Guard as a Military Police Officer and began studying Criminal Justice in college. Bobby joined the Jacksonville Police Department at just 21 years old. He had a passion to come back and fight crime right in the neighborhood he grew up in. During the first year, Bobby received three Letter of Commendations for saving the lives of three different citizens in Jacksonville, including the well-known pursuit of a young man who hijacked a school bus full of school kids. A year later, at 22, he became an undercover narcotics detective. It was in this position that he saw the effects drugs can have in the community and dedicated to stopping violent drug dealers. He recalls one of his biggest busts where several guns and drugs were removed from the street. In
2015, his career came to a sudden stop when he made a decision that would cost him his job. While trying to protect a friend but breaking department policy, Bobby was terminated. He describes this incident as devastating and life changing, as he had wanted this career his whole life. He reached rock bottom, but fortunately, that setback became a setup. Bobby decided if he could not be a cop, he would become an attorney. He earned a job at a prestigious firm while completing college and was accepted into law school, where he emerged as a student leader — earning magna cum laude honors, becoming a Thurgood Marshall Scholar, serving in multiple leadership roles, and joining Law Review. Bobby founded Chosen Law Firm and today, it has grown into a multimillion-dollar operation with four attorneys.
He has taught Criminal Justice at UALR, serves on the Civil Service Commission for the City of Little Rock, and holds licenses to practice in Arkansas, Tennessee, and both the Eastern and Western Districts. Tragically, in 2023, Bobby’s sister was brutally murdered — a life-altering moment that deepened his commitment to ending senseless violence. He is a proud father, the founder of Xperience Kitchen and Lounge, a restaurateur, a real estate renovator who supports Section 8 families, a BBQ lover, a football fan, and a dedicated mentor. He is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha, the Arkansas Bar Association Board of Trustees, St. Mark Baptist Church. Bobby is a servant-leader whose life proves: second chances are not just possible — they’re powerful. A proud Army veteran, experienced trial lawyer, proven leader, and skilled manager, Bobby is committed to fighting for our district by reducing violent crime through smart and just prosecution. He is ready to hit the ground running in the fight to make our communities safe.
