Welcome Judge Lisa B. Forbes!

Undeterred by the pandemic—family, friends, and colleagues joined in a virtual forum on Zoom for the ceremonial investiture of Judge Lisa B. Forbes on January 15, 2021.

Judge Forbes was elected to the Eighth District Court of Appeals on November 3, 2020. Prior to being elected to the court of appeals, Judge Forbes was a partner and business litigator for a large, national firm where she worked for over 20 years.

With the main courtroom as a virtual background, Justice Melody Stewart of the Supreme Court of Ohio administered the oath of office and Judge Forbes’s husband, attorney Steve Forbes, held the family bible.

Justice Melody Stewart of the Supreme Court of Ohio administered the oath of office and Judge Forbes’s husband, attorney Steve Forbes, held the family bible.

Following the oath, Judge Forbes’ sons, Nick and Charlie, assisted Judge Forbes in putting on her robe. Judge Forbes’ daughter, Emily, cheered on remotely from New York.

Judge Forbes’ sons, Nick and Charlie, assisted Judge Forbes in putting on her robe.

Wanting her guests to experience the beauty and grandeur of the Old Courthouse, where the Eighth District Court of Appeals is located, Judge Forbes shared a slideshow of images in the Old Courthouse, including its two largest murals depicting the signing of the Magna Carta and the Constitutional Convention of 1787; a stain glass window, featuring Lady Justice; and the majestic main courtroom with the words of John Adams inscribed above the bench: “Ours is a government of law, not of men.”

Judge Forbes explained why these images resonate with her.

“Every day when I go into the court, I will be reminded what this job is all about. It is about justice, the law, our constitutional system of governance,” Judge Forbes said. “I stand ready to do my part. I will strive every day to live up to the ideal proclaimed by John Adams that ours is a government of laws and not of men.”

The program ended with a toast from Steve, congratulating Judge Forbes on achieving her dream and recognizing that her memory as an attorney will serve her well as a judge.