July 14, 2020

Kimberley Motley Recounts Her Unrelenting Fight For Justice in Afghanistan in “Lawless”

Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:17:33 — 71.2MB)

In this episode 122, we visit with Kimberley Motley, author of the book “Lawless,” which recounts her unrelenting fight for justice in one of the world’s most dangerous places.

This is an extraordinary story of a US woman who became the first foreign lawyer to practice in Afghanistan. The book is a memoir, but it also has the feel of a page-turning suspense novel, where Kimberley Motley faces one unique, difficult and dangerous legal case after another.

Through sheer force of personality, ingenuity and perseverance, Kimberley’s legal work swiftly morphed into a personal mission – to bring “justness” to the defenseless and voiceless.

We start the show with Kimberley reading a section from her book about one of her clients named Irene, where she shows how Irene wound up with a severe prison sentence and explains that when women go to prison in Afghanistan, their children often go with them.

Connect with the author

Check out the author’s website here: http://motleylegal.com/

Check out the author’s social media here:

Twitter: www.twitter.com/KimMotleysLaw

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberley-motley-101bb824/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kimberley.motley

Kimberley Motley at Jalalabad Detention Center in Afghanistan.

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About the Author

Kimberley Motley has earned the reputation as one of the world’s most respected and successful international lawyers. The former beauty queen, (Mrs. Wisconsin-America 2004) is a force to be reckoned with. Armed with an unwavering determination and a passion for justice, Motley is the first and only foreign lawyer to ever litigate in Afghanistan’s Courts. In 2008, Motley traveled to Afghanistan and shortly thereafter became the first foreigner and still only foreigner to litigate in Afghanistan’s Courts representing a vast array of clients in civil, commercial, and criminal courts. She has been practicing law in Afghanistan for over ten years and her practice has grown to where she represents people on almost every continent.

Her success has included securing the first Presidential Pardon for a woman charged with adultery which subsequently decriminalized running away as a crime in Afghanistan, successfully working on international child abduction cases which resulted in the return of British and Australian children ages ranging from 2 years to 8 years old, successfully working in Bolivia on stopping the legalization of child rapes under the age of 6 through the representation of a forensic doctor and successfully working towards the release of Former Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in Malaysia.

Bringing her vast knowledge, experience, success record and steadfast ethical standards to each case, Motley challenges outdated illegal cultural norms and focuses on laws that are underutilized. In 2012, she was the first attorney to be given the title of Honorary Legal Representative to Her Majesty’s Ambassador and the British Embassy in Afghanistan – a title that she has maintained under five UK Ambassadors and continues to maintain. Motley has represented the EU, Italian, Canadian, German, Australian, and French Embassy and has also provided legal representation to many successful International Initiatives in Afghanistan in the medical, music, education, and telecommunication fields.

Her expert legal work has earned international attention with segments on the BBC, CNN, NBC, as well as profiles in The New York Times, Vanity Fair, London Times, The Washington Post, among many others. Motley has also published several articles on juvenile justice and contemporary legal issues in Afghanistan as well as the U.S. In 2014, Richard Branson named her as one of the fourteen most inspirational people.

Motley has given a TED TALK with over a million views entitled “How I Defend the Rule of Law” that outlines some of her work. An award winning international documentary highlighting her work entitled “Motley’s Law” was released in 2015. Forever the DJ, Motley is also developing a comic book about a superhero team of lawyers and investigators who travel around the world fighting cases.

Kimberley Motley, Mrs. Wisconsin, 2004

Kimberley Motley’s Awards

Women in Law Award, April 2020
Corporate Law Lawyer of the Year in Afghanistan, November 2019
Leaders in Law Global Award – Commercial Law Expert in Afghanistan, November 2019
Honorary Doctorate Degree, Open University in Birmingham, Great Britain, 2017
UWM Alumni Association Community Service Award, 2016
Chambers Women In Law, Outstanding Contribution to International Community, 2015
American Association of Community Colleges Outstanding Alumni Award, 2015
International Business Law Firm of the Year in Afghanistan, Global Law Experts Practice Area Awards, 2013
Chambers USA Women in Law Award for Outstanding Contribution Award to Public Service/Social Activism, 2013
Justice Tom C. Clark Equal Justice Under the Law Award, Phi Alpha Delta, July 2012.
Spirit of Marquette Alumni Award April 2012
Recipient of International Women’s Day, Advancement of Young Women Award by Agape Community Center Sponsored by the Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother, 2011

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Kimberley Motley walking the streets of Afghanistan with one of her clients

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