Gerry Spence is a legal legend and an American original: a teacher, naturalist, painter, photographer, conservationist, philosopher, writer and moral leader. In this interview, Gerry and his wife of forty years, Imaging, discuss his life, his family, his teaching, his protection of the environment, his pursuit of justice and his creation of The Trial Lawyers College.
Gerry also asks and seeks to answer life’s most important questions:
Who are we?
Where are we headed, and why?
How can we live more fulfilling life?
How can we be free
What is the matter with justice in America today?
How can we get better judges, better trained lawyers, and how can lawyers serve the people better?
The Trial Lawyers College is dedicated to training and educating lawyers and judges who are committed to the jury system and to representing and obtaining justice for individuals; the poor, the injured, the forgotten, the voiceless, the defenseless and the damned, and to protecting the rights of such people from corporate and government oppression. In all of its activities, the Trial Lawyers College will foster and nourish an open atmosphere of caring for people regardless of their race, age, creed, religion, national origin, physical abilities, gender or sexual orientation. The Trial Lawyers College does not offer training for those lawyers who represent government, corporations or large business interests. The Trial Lawyers College emphasizes 8 key steps to pursuing justice:
1.Truth-telling Process
2.Discovering the Story
3.The Trial Lawyers College Method and Use of Psychodramatic Tools
4.Brainstorming
5.Storytelling
6.Prison Litigation
7.Listening Exercises
8.Ethics and Trial Lawyering
Gerry Spence has tried and won many nationally known cases, including the Karen Silkwood case (a movie was made of the case with Meryl Streep and Cher), the defense of Randy Weaver at Ruby Ridge, the defense of Imelda Marcos, the case against “Penthouse Magazine” for Miss Wyoming and the murder defenses of Ed Cantrell and Sandy Jones. In 2008 in a politically charged case brought by the Justice Department in Michigan against attorney Geoffrey Fieger, Gerry won complete acquittals for his client on a ten-count indictment alleging federal campaign contribution violations, conspiracy and obstruction of justice.
Gerry also represented Brandon Mayfield, a modest Oregon attorney, against the United States in which Spence was instrumental in obtaining a federal court to hold the Patriot Act unconstitutional. He has tried numerous other important criminal and civil trials. He has never lost a criminal case either as a prosecutor or a defense attorney. He has not lost a civil case since 1969. He has had more multi-million dollar verdicts without an intervening loss than any lawyer in America.
Gerry is the founder of the nationally acclaimed Trial Lawyers College, which established a revolutionary method for training lawyers for the people. He believes that what he has learned in a career should be shared with those who will continue to strive for justice on behalf of ordinary citizens. There he and his pro bono staff teach not only trial lawyers for the people but conduct a forum to help lawyers defeat the death penalty. He is the founder of Lawyers and Advocates for Wyoming, a not for profit public interest law firm which champions cases affecting public interest for clients who have nowhere else to have their voices heard.
Gerry is the author of sixteen nationally published books, including the massive best-seller, How to Argue and Win Every Time; From Freedom to Slavery; O.J: the Last Word; The Making of a Country Lawyer; Murder and Madness; A Boy’s Summer; With Justice for None; Give Me Liberty!; Gunning for Justice; Trial by Fire, Win Your Case; Bloodthirsty Bitches, and the Pious Pimps of Power; Gerry Spence’s Wyoming; Smoking Gun and his widely acclaimed novel, Half-Moon and Empty Stars.
The Spence Law Firm is made up of eight partners with combined legal experience of over 200 years, dedicated to the fight for the rights of the injured. Each partner has developed extensive knowledge and expertise in one or more of the practice areas and specialties of the firm. The firm represents people who have suffered injuries at the workplace, during recreational activities, or in automobile, trucking, railroad or aviation accidents. The Spence Law Firm takes legal action based on products liability for injury or loss caused by defective products – equipment, toys, medical prostheses, pharmaceuticals, household products, etc. The firm represents people who are the victims of toxic exposures (poisoning of the air, water, soil, workplace, etc.), employment discrimination, and bad faith execution of contracts by insurance companies, business entities, and service providers.
You can contact Gerry Spence at 800-967-2117, or www.spencelawyers.com