Celebrating 10 Years in Fort Worth - Texas Wesleyan School of Law ...

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a phone call in 1996 from Mongolian
Chief Justice Ganzorig led to a visit that
found the men debating and redrafting a
proposed code of criminal procedure for
the Mongolian Legislature.
“There were so many ways we could have
helped, as a university,” Spurlock said.
“We picked a very narrow slice, which
was to help them establish judicial
independence in the country. And that
doesn’t mean judges being free to do
whatever they wanted. It means the
judges must be free to follow the law.
“To be educated enough, to have the
courage, the strength, and the conviction
to apply the right decision. It takes courage
in the face of the system, and they were
used to getting their information over the
telephone, from the higher court telling
the lower court what to do.”
Once the AJI established a course of
study, the travel began. To date, 43
judges from the trial courts, appellate
courts, and the Supreme Court of
Mongolia have received training in the
principles of judicial accountability,
responsibility, honesty, and procedures
of court in the U.S. and Texas. The most
recent visit, which took place this July,
marked a new point in the program’s
role in how it will affect the future
of Mongolia.
In place of the usual contingent of judicial
officers, this year’s group was comprised
of legal trainers from the National Legal
Center of Mongolia. In contrast to their
judicial counterparts, this group not only
Chief Justice Ganzorig of the Mongolian Supreme Court has
been involved with the AJI since 1996, when he approached
Professor Spurlock for advice on drafting criminal procedure
code. The artwork behind him is one of several pieces that
Spurlock has collected over the years.
Photo by Abby E. Dozier
received training they will apply in their
own legal practices, but they returned
to Mongolia prepared to train future
generations of legal practitioners, thus
ensuring that the democratic system is
imparted in the future.
“The school and the National Legal Center
of Mongolia agreed on this pilot program
to explore possible future long-term
training possibilities,” Spurlock said.
“Our training emphasis has shifted from
courtroom protocols and the criteria of
judging to teaching requested substantive
and procedural subjects to the lawyers
and their teachers.”
Participants in the course were grateful
for the chance to attend the training, and
expressed their gratitude to Spurlock at
every opportunity.
“You have made a great impression in
Mongolia,” Batjav said to Spurlock. “This
training was very helpful because you
have so much experience working with
Mongolia. I believe everyone here had
something in mind they are planning to
do back in Mongolia. I will select topics
from this program to teach to others. The
country will benefit from this, and I am
very happy you wanted me to be a part
of it.”
unexpected Connections
This change in the program’s course of
instruction is just one sign of the positive
impact Spurlock’s work has made on
this nation. In addition to the vocal
praise and continual requests for more
training programs, both here and abroad,
Spurlock has been formally recognized
by Mongolia’s top governmental
leaders. He received the Mongolian
Medal of Friendship from past President
Bagabandi in 2005 for creating the AJI
and assisting in the country’s judicial
reform efforts, and in 2006, President
Enkhbayar awarded Spurlock the medal
of the 800th Anniversary of the Founding
of the Mongolian Great State, for his work
contributing to favorable international
recognition for Mongolia and her people.
“Professor Spurlock has been the driving
force behind this project, and his energy
and enthusiasm for the AJI has been
35
Professor Joe Spurlock, front row, second from left, with the
members of the 2007 Asian Judicial training program.
the catalyst for the program’s success,”
Interim Dean Cynthia L. Fountaine said. “I
am honored that Texas Wesleyan University
School of Law has had the opportunity to
develop this relationship with Mongolian
leaders, and I am proud of the impact our
law school has had in spreading democracy
throughout the world.”
After 45 years as a licensed attorney, with
30 of those as an undergraduate and
law school professor, one might wonder
what keeps Spurlock going with a project
such as this. A love for his country and
an honest, respectful belief in the laws
that govern it are evident in Spurlock’s
words and actions. And even more than
wanting to share this knowledge with
his Mongolian colleagues, Spurlock has
forged a connection with these people that
promises to motivate him to keep helping
them as long as they ask.
“I think the best thing I’ve gained from
this is the realization that there is this
island of people way over in Asia, a
place people literally talk about as ‘the
end of the earth,’” Spurlock said. “And
when you get there, you find Texans. Yes,
there are different languages, different
appearances, different cultures, different
ways of living. But you find essentially
open, fair, and honest people who love
life itself. They have a spirit you just
wouldn’t believe. I’ve gone to the end of
the earth, and I’ve met myself.” z
Members of the AJI training program in July 2007. The group
spent many hours in classrooms at the law school, listening to
lectures and asking questions about the American legal system.
Photo by Abby E. Dozier
Photo by Abby E. Dozier
feature story — passion in action: how one professor’s love of law is helping reshape a nation • by abby e. dozier • photos by paul b. scudder, lauren o. burkett & abby e. dozier