The Spectacular Trial Successes of Gerry Spence

John Bowie, LawFuel publisher

I met Gerry Spence, who died earlier this month, at his Jackson Hole office during his Christmas Party – a young (then) New Zealand lawyer seeking to meet a living legend trial lawyer who reputedly never lost a criminal case. It was the early 1980s and the Spence Law Firm office was enjoying itself, something of a cross between a Yellowstone set and Laramie, where he was born. But Gerry Spence’s buckskinned getup, silver hair and Tetons-sized presence cemented the image his courtroom success promised.

We talked about trials and the Wyoming region we were vacationing and whether we could arrange a visit Down Under – pursued but never to eventuate.

Gerry Spence reputedly never lost a criminal case, (although as the New York Times obituary noted he failed to get a speeding ticket dismissed). He dressed frequently in his trademark, fringed buckskin jackets and a white Stetson, and dismantled courtroom adversaries with theatrical flair. Undoubtedly one of America’s legendary trial lawyers, he died at 96 in Montecito, California, on August 13, 2025, the legal profession lost its most colorful champion of the underdog.

In an era where AI-assisted legal research and corporate law firms dominate litigation, Spence’s approach—rooted in storytelling, human connection, and theatrical advocacy—offers timeless lessons about the power of authentic representation.

Gerald Leonard Spence wasn’t just a lawyer, but was also a cultural phenomenon who transformed litigation into prime-time entertainment while securing justice for ordinary people against corporate giants.

His death marks the end of an era when raw charisma could triumph over case citations, and when a country lawyer from Wyoming could become America’s most feared courtroom advocate.

The Wyoming Roots of a Legal Revolution

Born on January 8, 1929, in Laramie, Wyoming, Gerry Spence grew up during the Great Depression when his family “scraped by”. His humble beginnings shaped his lifelong commitment to representing “the poor, the injured, the forgotten and the damned” against what he called “the new slave master”—a combination of mammoth corporations and government power.

His colleague Joseph H. Low IV captured his essence: “No lawyer has done as much to free the people of this country from the slavery of its new corporate masters”.

“Lawyers should be chosen because they can demonstrate a history rich in human traits, the ability to care, the courage to fight, the will to win, a concern for the human condition, a passion for justice and simple uncompromising honesty. These are the traits of the lawyer.” Gerry Spence

After graduating cum laude from the University of Wyoming Law School in 1952, Spence built his practice defending the clients he regarded as defenseless.

His Wyoming upbringing wasn’t just background but also became his brand. The buckskin jacket that made him instantly recognizable wasn’t costume drama, but as the New York Times reported it was authentic armor that reminded juries he fought for regular folks against polished corporate lawyers.

The Karen Silkwood Victory That Started It All

Spence’s national reputation exploded in 1979 with his $10.5 million verdict against nuclear giant Kerr-McGee in the Karen Silkwood case.

Silkwood, a nuclear worker contaminated with plutonium who died in a suspicious car crash in 1974 became the centerpiece of Spence’s crusade against corporate negligence. The case, later immortalized in a movie starring Meryl Streep and Cher, established Spence as the go-to attorney for taking on powerful industries.

Defending the Indefensible

Spence’s criminal defense record reads like a master class in jury persuasion, the subject of his own ‘Gerry Spence Method’ course on advocacy and storytelling.

He secured acquittal for the Philippines’ former First Lady Imedla Marocs on racketeering charges related to allegedly embezzling $200 million from the national treasury.

He successfully defended the white supremacist Randy Weaver in the infamous 1993 federal standoff case on charges including murder, conspiracy, and firearms violations.

He won the notorious Rock Springs murder case of Ed Cantrell, which had absorbed the nation.

H even defended a man who shot his ex-wife in front of eight witnesses—and won.

Corporate Giants Brought to Account

Among his many abilities and claims to the fame he achieved were Spence’s civil litigation victories, which also became the stuff of legal folklore.

• Among the victories was a $26.5 million verdict against Penthouse Magazine for defaming Miss Wyoming Kim Pring in 1981, a $52 million claim from McDonald’s Corporation in 1984 for breach of contract with a small ice cream company and $47 million from USX for depriving workers of pension funds.

The Theater of Justice

What separated Gerry Spence from conventional attorneys wasn’t just his win record—it was his understanding that trials are fundamentally human dramas. His courtroom theatrics weren’t gimmicks; they were strategic weapons designed to connect with juries on an emotional level that transcended legal technicalities.

“I would rather have a jury of 12 than a god,” Spence famously declared. This philosophy drove his approach, which is based on the fact that juries don’t just weigh evidence, they respond to stories, personalities, and authentic human connection.

His theatrical style included clapping his hands in front of sleepy prosecutors while shouting “Wake up!” and directly challenging judges with his Wyoming drawl. But behind his courtroom performance lay meticulous preparation, thorough investigation, and masterful cross-examination techniques he would later teach to thousands of attorneys.

The Teacher Who Built a Movement

In his later years, Gerry Spence became as influential as an educator as he was a litigator. He founded the Trial Lawyers College at his 220-acre Thunderhead Ranch near Dubois, Wyoming, where he conducted revolutionary five-week seminars – his Gerry Spence Method – that transformed how attorneys approach jury trials.

His teaching philosophy extended beyond legal tactics to encompass what he considered the essential traits of effective advocacy: “the ability to care, the courage to fight, the will to win, a concern for the human condition, a passion for justice and simple uncompromising honesty”.

The Gerry Spence Method became a pilgrimage destination for trial lawyers seeking to master his blend of storytelling, emotional authenticity, and strategic showmanship.

Author, Media Personality, and Cultural Icon

Gerry Spence wrote 18 books, including the massive bestseller “How to Argue and Win Every Time” and other influential titles like “Police State: How America’s Cops Get Away with Murder” and “Win Your Case”. His autobiography revealed the man behind the buckskin legend, while his legal guides democratized his courtroom strategies for lawyers and ordinary citizens alike.

Television audiences knew Spence as NBC’s legal consultant during the O.J. Simpson trial, where his commentary brought his folksy wisdom to millions of viewers. He hosted “The Gerry Spence Show” on CNBC and appeared regularly on Larry King Live, becoming one of the most recognizable legal personalities in America.

The man who turned litigation into spectator sport and made corporate defendants sweat leaves behind more than legal victories. Gerry Spence leaves a template for fearless advocacy and a reminder that in the right hands, the law remains a weapon for the powerless against the powerful.