Trial Magazine

Gerry Spence 1929–2025

Gerry Spence, the storied Wyoming trial lawyer known for his signature fringed buckskin jacket and commanding presence in the courtroom, died August 13. His passing leaves the legal community reflecting on a stellar 70-year career defined by passion, integrity, and relentless advocacy for justice.

Born in Laramie, Wyo., in 1929, Gerry graduated from the University of Wyoming in 1949 and earned his law degree there in 1952. He began his legal career as a defense lawyer. But his son, Kent Spence, said everything changed one day at the grocery store when Gerry ran into a plaintiff he had recently defeated in court. “The man had lost his leg,” Kent said, “and Dad expressed regret that he had not gotten justice. The man replied, ‘It’s OK, Mr. Spence. You were only doing your job.’ That conversation marked a turning point for my father.”

Thereafter, Gerry’s career trajectory changed, and he went on to become a champion for ordinary people against powerful interests. From 1969 forward, he won every civil jury case he argued—a testament to his unparalleled skill and meticulous preparation.

AAJ Vice President Marion Munley, who attended Gerry’s renowned Trial Lawyers College at his Wyoming ranch in 1996, described him as larger than life—a gifted storyteller with homespun eloquence who encouraged his students to use their talents to serve others.

Spence’s authenticity was his superpower in connecting with jurors. “He taught us that your credibility is all you have,” Munley said. “He emphasized the importance of knowing yourself and being real. Otherwise, jurors would see you as ‘a $100 saddle on a $10 horse’—a saying he attributed to his Uncle Slim.”

AAJ Governors Mel Orchard III and Bryan Ulmer III, two of Gerry’s partners at The Spence Law Firm, echoed that sentiment. “In his early years, Gerry worked hard to identify his core values and find his ‘true north,’” said Orchard. “That way, he was in complete service of the story, with nothing getting in the way of connecting with the jury,” Ulmer added.

Gerry expected the best of everyone, especially himself. “He was always the hardest worker on the team,” Orchard said. “Even during our last trial together, when he was in his early 80s, he still set the bar.” Munley noted, “He would tell us that every hour he spent in the courtroom represented 24 hours of preparation.”

An AAJ member since 1973, Gerry served the association in a variety of ways over the years. He was a member of the Board of Governors, a faculty member of AAJ Education’s Weekend with the Stars Seminar, and a contributor to Trial magazine. His firm has been a Leaders Forum Patron member since 2012. In 2013, AAJ honored him with its prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award, which recognizes an AAJ member whose courtroom advocacy has, during a distinguished career, significantly furthered the cause of justice and the association’s mission.

Beyond the courtroom, Gerry was a creative soul—a painter, singer, and poet—who often used painting as a metaphor for trial work. “He had a way of speaking to the inner voice in all of us—the things we may not say out loud but that so many of us feel,” Orchard said.

Joseph Low IV taught in Gerry’s program and now leads it. He said Gerry’s ability to listen deeply to people set him apart. “Every conversation I had with him was like unwrapping a present,” Low said. “He had a way of asking you questions that helped you look at things differently and learn something new about yourself.”

AAJ member Betsy Greene was a student in Gerry’s Trial Lawyers College. “Gerry’s message was simple,” she said. “He felt that any lawyer can be a powerful advocate if they connect on an honest level with the jury.”

Orchard and Ulmer summed up his legacy this way: “When we commit to lifting each other up, as Gerry did, we further democratic ideals. The lessons he left the trial bar will live on for decades.”