Gerry Spence Honored with AAJ Lifetime Achievement Award

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Aug 02, 2013, 11:39 ET

JACKSON, Wyo., Aug. 2, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Trial lawyer Gerry Spence's six-decade commitment to protecting victims of the legal system has earned him the American Association for Justice's 2013 Lifetime Achievement Award.

The founding member of The Spence Law Firm, LLC, Spence spoke to hundreds of the nation's top trial lawyers about the importance of fighting for individual rights and for protecting the people of America from government and corporate abuses.

The award recognizes an AAJ member of at least 20 years standing whose courtroom advocacy has, during a distinguished career, significantly advanced the rights of the wrongfully injured; and who, by substantial service to AAJ and the trial bar, has significantly furthered the cause of justice and the mission of the Association.

Spence, whose high-profile cases include the Karen Silkwood case, the defense of Randy Weaver at Ruby Ridge, and the defense of Geoffrey Fieger, told the AAJ members he was honored by the award, but emphasizing recognizing others who fight for justice, often without notice.

He said, "Most of our profession's lifetime achievers are lawyers across the country who fight for justice day in and day out without necessarily making much money or ending up in newspapers and on TV. These great lawyers fight hard for what is right, and are there for their communities and the people that need them, through thick and through thin."

Spence urged the audience to commit to preserving justice in this country by fighting for justice. "It is up to us individually to help prevent corporate and government interests from taking away the rights and liberties of individuals that make this country great," he said.

The award presentation at the AAJ's annual convention in San Francisco was attended by Spence's wife Imaging, and his son and law partner Kent W. Spence, along with several of his law firm partners, including Robert A. Krause, G. Bryan Ulmer, Mel C. Orchard, and Tyson E. Logan.

Spence graduated cum laude from the University of Wyoming Law School in 1952. The University awarded him an honorary Doctor of Laws degree in 1990. The founder of Lawyers and Advocates for Wyoming (L.A.W.), a nonprofit public interest law firm, he also was honored for law and letters by the American Academy of Achievement.

Still actively representing people across the country in civil and criminal cases, Spence is currently preparing for a civil rights case set for trial this fall.

More information about the 16-lawyer, Jackson, Wyo.-based Spence Law Firm, LLC and its national representation of clients is available at www.spencelawyers.com.

Contact: Erin Powers, Powers MediaWorks LLC, for The Spence Law Firm, LLC, 281.703.6000, [email protected].

SOURCE The Spence Law Firm, LLC