Gerry Spence, the legal maverick from Wyoming, has died at age 96. Mr. Spence, who often wore a white Stetson cowboy hat, snakeskin boots and a buckskin fringed jacket to court, has been called America’s greatest trial lawyer. Mr. Spence was reputed to have never lost a criminal jury trial as a prosecutor or a defense lawyer. He successfully defended dozens of high profile cases, that were seemingly hopeless, by using a homespun, story telling style that appealed to the common man. Perhaps his best known case was the defense of Imelda Marcos, the widow of Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos, who was accused of looting the Philippine treasury of $ 200 million, to purchase Manhattan real estate, and luxury clothing and shoes. Mr. Spence charmed a New York City federal jury by being real with them, and using common language, instead of fancy or confusing “legalese”. He taught this same practice to hundreds of aspiring trial lawyers, at his Trial Lawyers College, located at his Thunderhead Ranch, Dubois, Wyoming. The Trial Lawyers College does not accept prosecutors, government lawyers, insurance defense lawyers or corporate lawyers. Instead, it trains lawyers “for the people and for justice”. I had the honor of studying at the Trial Lawyers College in 2009, at it changed the way that I practice law and try criminal cases. Mr. Spence was also a best selling author, having written over 20 books. He is survived by his second wife, his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Covid-19 Part 3: Reporting for Probation, Parole and Registry
During these uncertain times, I have been flooded with a lot of questions from both colleagues and clients regarding the closing of courts. First, any closing of the courts is generally a decision left up to each individual court. In my home state - Ohio, we have...
