His brilliant legal analysis and engaging style bring a passion to American courtrooms gone since the days of Clarence Darrow.Gerry Spence, recognized nationwide for his powerful courtroom victories, including the estate of Karen Silkwood against Kerr-McGee and the defenses of former Philippine First Lady Imelda Marcos and White Separatist Randy Weaver, takes pride in being a country lawyer. Bom, raised and educated in Wyoming, Spence graduated cum laude from the University of Wyoming Law School in 1952. The University awarded him an honorary Doctor of Laws degree in May, 1990. He spent his early years as a prosecutor and gradually developed an insurance clientele becoming one of the leading defense attorneys in the intermountain area. After successfully defending insurance companies for many years he "saw the light" and took on a new direction---representing people. No more corporations, insurance companies, banks or big businesses. Representing people remains his steadfast commitment.

Spence first gained national recognition when he received a $10,500,000 verdict against Kerr-McGee in the Karen Silkwood case on behalf of her children. Later he earned such verdicts as $26,535,000 against Penthouse for Miss Wyoming and successfully defended Ed Cantrell in the famous Rock Springs, Wyoming, murder case. Spence received a $52,000,000 verdict against McDonald's Corporation, the fast-food chain, on behalf of a small, bankrupt, family-owned ice cream company for McDonald's breach of an oral contract. A Utah medical malpractice verdict of over $4,000,000 established a new standard for nursing care in that state. In 1990 he won acquittal for Imelda Marcos on multiple charges after a 3 1/2-month trial in New York City. In June, 1992, he received a record-breaking $15,000,000 verdict for emotional damages incurred by his quadriplegic client because a major insurance company refused to pay the $50,000 policy more than twenty years earlier. Two weeks later he added $18,500,000 in punitive damages to the award. In July, 1993, Spence successfully defended Randy Weaver on murder, assault, conspiracy and gun charges in the famous Idaho federal standoff case. He has not lost a jury trial since 1969, and has never lost a criminal case.

He is the author of Gunning for Justice, the story of Spence's struggle through a painful and desolate metamorphosis to become the leading spokesman for a new system of law and lawyers for the people; Of Murder and Madness, a true story of insanity and the law (both published by Doubleday); Trial by Fire (William Morrow), the story of the Penthouse case; With Justice for None (Times Books, 1989) detailing his views on the failure of the American justice system, (published in paperback by Penguin Books in October, 1990); From Freedom to Slavery: The Rebirth of Tyranny in America, was published by St. Martin's Press on July 4, 1993. How to Argue and Win Every Time (St. Martin's Press, 1995), a national best seller, discusses, in depth, the power of persuasion and teaches that everyone is capable of making the winning argument. The Making of a Country Lawyer, Spence writes this painfully honest autobiography that reveals how a country lawyer became one of the greatest trial lawyers of our time, published by St. Martin's Press, 1996. O.J.: The Last Word in which Spence writes his portrait of America and its troubled justice system in the twilight of the twentieth century, published by St. Martin's Press, 1997. With his latest book, Give Me Liberty, he outlines how we, "The New American Slaves" can free ourselves and our nation, published in October 1998 by St. Martin's Press.

In June, 1995 through September, 1996, Spence teamed with television network CNBC to create The Gerry Spence Show, which aired live for 1/2 hour every Friday night. The show discussed legal and social issues which affected the lives of the people of our country.

For many years Spence has lectured at law schools and conducted seminars at various legal organizations around the country. He is the founder and director of the non-profit Trial Lawyer's College where lawyers learn to try cases on behalf of the people. He is also the founder of Lawyers and Advocates for Wyoming, a non-profit public interest law firm. Spence served as legal consultant for NBC television covering the O.J. Simpson trial and has hosted and appeared on Larry King Live and the Rivera Show numerous times.

Gerry Spence practices law in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

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