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RIP Gerry Spence: One of greatest trial lawyers of all time.
Posted on 8/15/25 at 7:15 pm
Posted on 8/15/25 at 7:15 pm
He died this week at age of 96. I got an opportunity to meet him a few times. Was even nicer in person.
Absolutely a man of the people and for the people.
From his bio:
Born and raised in the small towns of Wyoming, personal injury attorney Gerry Spence has been practicing law for nearly 60 years. A country lawyer, Mr. Spence has built his legacy on defending ordinary people against big corporations and the government. He has been nationally recognized for trying and winning well-known cases, including the defense of Randy Weaver at Ruby Ridge, the Karen Silkwood case, and the defense of Geoffrey Fieger. Mr. Spence did not lose a civil case from 1969 - 2010, and he has never lost a criminal case.
Mr. Spence earned his law degree from the University of Wyoming Law School, graduating cum laude in 1952. In the spring of 1990, the University awarded Mr. Spence an honorary Doctor of Laws degree and he has been recognized by the American Academy of Achievement for law and letters.
Early in his practice, Mr. Spence worked as a prosecutor, gradually building an insurance clientele and making a name for himself as one of the top defense attorneys in the region. After many years of representing large insurance companies, Mr. Spence had a pivotal moment in his career. He "saw the light" and decided to switch his practice in order to defend the people he once took on. To this day, Mr. Spence remains steadfastly committed to the defense of ordinary people and their families.
Absolutely a man of the people and for the people.
From his bio:
Born and raised in the small towns of Wyoming, personal injury attorney Gerry Spence has been practicing law for nearly 60 years. A country lawyer, Mr. Spence has built his legacy on defending ordinary people against big corporations and the government. He has been nationally recognized for trying and winning well-known cases, including the defense of Randy Weaver at Ruby Ridge, the Karen Silkwood case, and the defense of Geoffrey Fieger. Mr. Spence did not lose a civil case from 1969 - 2010, and he has never lost a criminal case.
Mr. Spence earned his law degree from the University of Wyoming Law School, graduating cum laude in 1952. In the spring of 1990, the University awarded Mr. Spence an honorary Doctor of Laws degree and he has been recognized by the American Academy of Achievement for law and letters.
Early in his practice, Mr. Spence worked as a prosecutor, gradually building an insurance clientele and making a name for himself as one of the top defense attorneys in the region. After many years of representing large insurance companies, Mr. Spence had a pivotal moment in his career. He "saw the light" and decided to switch his practice in order to defend the people he once took on. To this day, Mr. Spence remains steadfastly committed to the defense of ordinary people and their families.
This post was edited on 8/16/25 at 11:42 pm
9
Posted on 8/15/25 at 7:19 pm to TutHillTiger
I never met him but I have a selfie from outside his office in Jackson Hole. CSB
Posted on 8/15/25 at 7:20 pm to TutHillTiger
quote:His 1st name is Gerry and you say you met him a few times?
RIP Jerry Spence:
Posted on 8/15/25 at 7:21 pm to TutHillTiger
Roast in hell! 
Posted on 8/15/25 at 7:22 pm to marcus3000
What exactly did he do to raise that level of ire? Do you object to accused people having the right to defense counsel?
Posted on 8/15/25 at 7:24 pm to TutHillTiger
I sense a movie or documentary upcoming
Posted on 8/15/25 at 7:32 pm to Kcrad
Callo or Gallo?
Posted on 8/15/25 at 7:45 pm to TutHillTiger
I have tried cases across from several of his TLC grads and they have a very particular way of trying a case. I would usually ask them if they went to TLC and I was right about 90% of the time. After the first couple I would try to find out if a new (to me) attorney was a grad. It had a heavy impact on my jury selection.
There are few that could weave a tale like Gerry and he understood the importance of storytelling, psychodrama, and non-verbal communication.
There are few that could weave a tale like Gerry and he understood the importance of storytelling, psychodrama, and non-verbal communication.
Posted on 8/15/25 at 7:47 pm to TutHillTiger
Looks like you spelled his name wrong even though it’s spelled correctly in your copy pasta.
Posted on 8/15/25 at 8:34 pm to Crimsonians
quote:
Gallo?
Jerry Gallo’s dead!!
Posted on 8/15/25 at 8:38 pm to TutHillTiger
Did he have a tv show?
Wapner and Judge Judy = First ballot HOF
Wapner and Judge Judy = First ballot HOF
Posted on 8/15/25 at 8:41 pm to Obtuse1
What’s the telltale for them (him)? I’ve not gone to TLC but apparently the theme is authenticity. Seems pretty self-evident but lawyers are a bunch of weird nerds so maybe it’s a skill to teach?
Posted on 8/15/25 at 8:45 pm to TutHillTiger
quote:
defense of Randy Weaver at Ruby Ridge
God bless Gerry for defending him.
Posted on 8/15/25 at 9:08 pm to Zap Rowsdower
quote:
Jerry Gallo’s dead!!
Well I'm not Jerry Gallo! I'm Jerry Callo! "C-A-LLO!"
Posted on 8/15/25 at 9:11 pm to TutHillTiger
I've read several of his books.
He uttered a line in the closing of the Silkwood v Kerr McGee case that has become famous among trial lawyers, for its pithy explanation of strict liability:
"If the lion gets away, Kerr-McGee must pay."
He uttered a line in the closing of the Silkwood v Kerr McGee case that has become famous among trial lawyers, for its pithy explanation of strict liability:
"If the lion gets away, Kerr-McGee must pay."
Posted on 8/16/25 at 11:53 pm to Obtuse1
I will always regret never going to his Summer school, but I know a lot of the graduates from it and they are all excellent lawyers. (I think it was 3-4 weeks long never wanted to be apart of from family that long, and couldnt get a pass anyway. )
There is no real trick to it but being yourself and focusing on communication not legal bullshite.
It was somewhat displaced by the Reptile now which grew out of the rules of the road and David Balls techniques. To me they are all evolutions from the greats techniques of masters like Howard Nations, Jerry Spence, Ron Motley, etc
There is no real trick to it but being yourself and focusing on communication not legal bullshite.
It was somewhat displaced by the Reptile now which grew out of the rules of the road and David Balls techniques. To me they are all evolutions from the greats techniques of masters like Howard Nations, Jerry Spence, Ron Motley, etc
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