Second Court of Appeals

Justice Place 3

Joe Clarence Marlin Spurlock II (1983 to 1992)

Joe Clarence Marlin Spurlock II was born January 29, 1938, in Fort Worth, Texas.  He earned his undergraduate degree at Texas A&M University and his law degree at The University of Texas School of Law.  He later obtained his LL.M. in Judicial Process from The University of Virginia.

Between college and law school, Spurlock served in the military for a time, earning a Bronze Star Medal for his service in Vietnam.  After returning to Texas, Spurlock worked in private practice before eventually becoming an assistant criminal district attorney.  He served in the Texas Legislature from 1971 to 1977 and as judge of the 231st District Court in Tarrant County from 1977 to 1983 before being appointed to succeed his father, Joe C. Spurlock, on the Second Court of Appeals. He served as a justice on this court from 1983 to 1992.

After stepping down from the bench, Spurlock taught for many years at the institution that would eventually become the Texas A&M University School of Law, where he was a founding faculty member.  While serving as a professor, he dedicated years of his life to helping reform the justice system in Mongolia.  Spurlock died on June 9, 2020, and was buried in Greenwood Memorial Park.