Born in Columbus, Georgia, Forrester received a Bachelor of Science degree from Georgia Institute of Technology in 1961 and a Bachelor of Laws from Emory University School of Law in 1966.
He was staff attorney for the Callaway for Governor Committee in Georgia from 1966 to 1967.
[2] Forrester served as a United States magistrate judge for the Northern District of Georgia from 1976 to 1981.
On November 24, 1981, he was nominated by President Ronald Reagan to a seat on the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia vacated by Judge Newell Edenfield.
Forrester was confirmed by the United States Senate on December 9, 1981, and received his commission the following day.