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Forbeck puts on judge's robe
By Ashley Rhodebeck
Daily News staff writer
JANESVILLE - The jury box was full, and its occupants wiggled in their seats, not pausing to blurt, “Hi Grandpa,” Friday afternoon as the judge of Courtroom H in the Rock County Courthouse approached his seat.
Ken Forbeck waved to his grandchildren, 14 in all, and turned his attention to the audience, which filled the seats and lined the walls, to begin his investiture ceremony.
The former Beloit attorney has overseen 50 to 75 cases since he began working as a Rock County Circuit Court judge Jan. 2, but Friday he took the oath of office and, with the help of his mother, wore the black robe for the first time.
Nearly hidden by her son, 85-year-old Angie Forbeck held the robe open as the new judge slipped his arms through the fabric and draped it into place.
In addition to loving him unconditionally, Forbeck said his mother had high expectations for him - she wanted him to go to college and become an attorney - which is why he asked her to participate in the event.
“She had a clear vision of where I was going,” he said.
Although the robe is a visible sign Forbeck is a judge, he said finally wearing the cloth didn't make him feel any different than what he's felt since his first day on the job.
“The court itself is the dignity,” he said, noting he plans to wear the robe for special occasions and jury trials.
Forbeck began practicing law in Rock County in 1970. He opened a general practice firm and worked there for about 18 months before transferring to the Rock County District Attorney's Office. After a year, Forbeck returned to Beloit to open another firm - Forbeck, Elliott and Monahan, S.C. - where he stayed for 34 years.
He never set out to become a judge - that became a dream within the past five to 10 years.
Forbeck approached the judgeship with a “great amount of humility,” he said.
He described his transition as interesting, especially when, upon entering a courtroom one day, he stopped to talk to someone and turned around only to see everyone standing, waiting for him to tell them to be seated.
So far, he said he has been lucky because the cases he's heard, such as criminal and divorce, are the types he handled as an attorney.
“I don't have to look up the law,” he said.
Serving as the courtroom's decision maker hasn't rattled Forbeck, who said he isn't afraid of making decisions.
“One of the amazing parts is people actually listen to what you say,” Forbeck said, and added the biggest perspective from the judge's chair is to give everybody a fair shot.
The most difficult part about becoming a judge wasn't facing new and unknown tasks.
“The job itself I can learn,” he said.
Instead, the hardest part was losing his clients and finding them different attorneys.
Forbeck applied for a position on the Court of Appeals, District IV, in 2003.
The Rock County judgeship became available when Circuit Court Judge John Roethe announced his retirement in September 2007. Nine attorneys applied for the position in October, and only six were interviewed by the Judicial Selection Committee.
Forbeck will fill the remainder of Roethe's term, which expires July 31, 2009.
Daily News staff writer
JANESVILLE - The jury box was full, and its occupants wiggled in their seats, not pausing to blurt, “Hi Grandpa,” Friday afternoon as the judge of Courtroom H in the Rock County Courthouse approached his seat.
Ken Forbeck waved to his grandchildren, 14 in all, and turned his attention to the audience, which filled the seats and lined the walls, to begin his investiture ceremony.
The former Beloit attorney has overseen 50 to 75 cases since he began working as a Rock County Circuit Court judge Jan. 2, but Friday he took the oath of office and, with the help of his mother, wore the black robe for the first time.
Nearly hidden by her son, 85-year-old Angie Forbeck held the robe open as the new judge slipped his arms through the fabric and draped it into place.
In addition to loving him unconditionally, Forbeck said his mother had high expectations for him - she wanted him to go to college and become an attorney - which is why he asked her to participate in the event.
“She had a clear vision of where I was going,” he said.
Although the robe is a visible sign Forbeck is a judge, he said finally wearing the cloth didn't make him feel any different than what he's felt since his first day on the job.
“The court itself is the dignity,” he said, noting he plans to wear the robe for special occasions and jury trials.
Forbeck began practicing law in Rock County in 1970. He opened a general practice firm and worked there for about 18 months before transferring to the Rock County District Attorney's Office. After a year, Forbeck returned to Beloit to open another firm - Forbeck, Elliott and Monahan, S.C. - where he stayed for 34 years.
He never set out to become a judge - that became a dream within the past five to 10 years.
Forbeck approached the judgeship with a “great amount of humility,” he said.
He described his transition as interesting, especially when, upon entering a courtroom one day, he stopped to talk to someone and turned around only to see everyone standing, waiting for him to tell them to be seated.
So far, he said he has been lucky because the cases he's heard, such as criminal and divorce, are the types he handled as an attorney.
“I don't have to look up the law,” he said.
Serving as the courtroom's decision maker hasn't rattled Forbeck, who said he isn't afraid of making decisions.
“One of the amazing parts is people actually listen to what you say,” Forbeck said, and added the biggest perspective from the judge's chair is to give everybody a fair shot.
The most difficult part about becoming a judge wasn't facing new and unknown tasks.
“The job itself I can learn,” he said.
Instead, the hardest part was losing his clients and finding them different attorneys.
Forbeck applied for a position on the Court of Appeals, District IV, in 2003.
The Rock County judgeship became available when Circuit Court Judge John Roethe announced his retirement in September 2007. Nine attorneys applied for the position in October, and only six were interviewed by the Judicial Selection Committee.
Forbeck will fill the remainder of Roethe's term, which expires July 31, 2009.
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