Kimberley Motley: How I defend the rule of law | TED

Every human deserves protection under their country’s laws - even when that law is forgotten or ignored. Sharing three cases from her international legal practice, Kimberley Motley, an American litigator practicing in Afghanistan and elsewhere, shows how a country’s own laws can bring both justice and “justness”: using the law for its intended purpose, to protect.
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[@LeonidasGGG]

Did she just drop the F* bomb on this talk?...Alright! :D A movie... I think this lady deserves a movie.

[@qyang2495]

The fact that she, as an American female lawyer, who is willing to go practice human rights work in a place like Afghanistan is extremely admirable. The approach she took, to use the actual law language to protect her clients is an outstanding way to go, because that is probably the only way you can make sounding arguments. I say bravo to her and her hard work! For those who is arguing that legality and morality are not the same thing, what is wrong with protecting morality with legal language and clauses? She is doing exactly that and it's working beautifully. Of course you can use it against morality but that's not the point here.

[@rafaella235]

I think I want to be an international human rights lawyer. this really inspires me to follow that dream.

[@remistaom]

So, 4 years later, how do you still feel about it?

[@AmericanSpartan]

Marxists going to Marxist

[@dianad3232]

I love the courage she has to help people. Fighting a tradition is so much harder than fighting a law. To think, an honest lawyer who really cares about the outcome of the people she is defending instead of the outcome of her pockets. I love it.

[@SimplyMayaBeauty]

What a remarkable woman!

[@James0Dillenger]

She is one of the most BadA woman I've seen in my life. What she has done is amazing. What she proves is true. We all should follow her example.

[@YoloAlf]

Sahar's story was terribly upsetting, how can people be so bloody cruel. Absolutely disgusting.

[@kaylynmerten6075]

Thank you for standing with us 6 years later, for justice! 6 years later and you still hold your ground and don’t back down ❤️ we love you Kimberly and we are so grateful to have met you and marched with you!

[@astaciamckinnis3969]

She inspires me to be a motivational speaker and a lawyer, I love this woman

[@sweetyrai]

Kimberley Motley..You did a great Job..you are reallly a superwomen..well done..keep going..(y)

[@meenandl]

Damn, someone give her a goddamn Nobel prize, y'all hearing how strong and confident this woman is? You go girl, love you

[@Bonzi_Buddy]

She deserves an award for grifting and filing frivolous lawsuits.

[@TBMamba24]

beautiful work, great courage. she is doing an excellent job.

[@astaciamckinnis3969]

I always love smart, strong and independent woman, and she's one of them

[@hsgrain490]

This girl has a bigger set than a all the 'lawyers' in the US. I wonder how she feels about the transparency in the White House?

[@thefilipinojoe]

Awesome work you're doing Kimberly. I'm glad you're on this planet and hope your work inspires the whole world.

[@monbbgtm06]

She's very courageous to do what she does where she's doing it.

[@iwasborntobefly]

not sure i've ever seen anyone get a standing ovation at a tedtalks. that's pretty rare.

[@BaadBadBoy]

Oh yeah. Now, that kind of stuff is why I subscribed to TEDTalks! Excellent job Kimberley!

[@GarageStudio7]

Morality tends to be relative thus her approach of using legality is quite effective; her fight for "justness" is an inspiration to multitudes...

[@Bonzi_Buddy]

She is a grifter.

[@KawalaWattonkawalawatton45]

Kimberley Motley, your speech was so inspirational and very helpful in that we have to understand that Laws are there for us and not against us when use them for their intende purpos.

[@josephuzamere1572]

I'm in love.... Wow. I just found my role model. She exemplifies what I plan to be after my degree.

[@AmericanSpartan]

Please be better...

[@muddu-awuliraedwardbernard4936]

watching this inn 2021 and greatly moved.

[@carolinaverissimo9230]

This is amazing! It makes me wonder what each of us can do to help and to impact the world positively

[@chubbycheeks75]

Amazingly insightful

[@Jejdjejbfjf]

While most people are so busy in their bubbles chasing success in the legal field, seeking internships and opportunities in "Big Law", this lady goes all the way to Afghanistan. She thought out of the box and followed up on it. Man, this is really inspiring, and a reminder for me to use the legal knowledge I have learnt in the right way, not simply to serve rich corporations. That's what I had always wanted to do as a child but somehow forgot along the way due to various social pressures.

[@yaiyasmin]

Being uneducated about our legal rights is indeed a global problem. We that basically have an unlimited access to information and education have no excuse to be ignorant about the laws that we live under.

[@ibandribew]

Yes we do. It's called US Tax Code, and it's 73,954 pages of laws typed in 12-point font.

[@ibandribew]

Adrien Perié​ I'm confused. Is that pertinent?

[@carmengeorgeweddings3906]

Powerhouse! What an impressive person.

[@shellzzz]

She is doing some incredible work and is an incredible person. I notice she hardly ever centers herself and prefers to lift up her clients and her collegues. Never speaks of Afghanistan or Afghans in a condescending way either, truly amazing.

[@naeemkuzco7732]

What a GREAT Lady >Recpect

[@aurieyr6844]

Inspiring.

[@TruongThiBichTram-]

She spread faith in life to me. Earned me an understanding of the role of the law. everyone has the right to claim their rights. And it is important to have good knowledge about the law to protect me

[@user-sk5ii6bo9e]

so inspiring and encouraging speech for a law student! i love your courage and confidence, and commitment for justness

[@ArtbookendsMeyer]

Excellent!

[@eyalmagnus9943]

Wow, amazing

[@BurkeLCH]

A law forbidding smoking cigarettes is not needed. Education as to the risks of smoking cigarettes is needed. Education > Law

[@mikayd]

We are not in disagreement, albeit the common folk could care less as to what is healthy for them. There could be a huge sign that says Smoke and DIE and people would still buy pack after pack.

[@BurkeLCH]

Agreed. Let them.

[@El_Cid-40]

Yes, at that point (having sufficient information on the dangers) they 'assume the risk' of the smoking activity.Free-to-choose.

[@princeofexcess]

Education often turns into indoctrination. People know cigarettes are bad they still choose to smoke them. No smoker thinks smoking is healthy. We dont need to be taught in school that earth is round we learn it from society. The same thing goes for dangers of smoking. Education is important but we dont need free education.

[@BurkeLCH]

It wasn't that long ago that cigarettes weren't seen as insanely unhealthy. Culture takes longer to morph then the facts. I don't see many people smoking cigarettes in 100 years.

[@z0rdic99]

I applauded for all the brave altruistic actions that she have done. We need more people like her.

[@AmericanSpartan]

We really don't

[@tarktaskn6654]

I admire your great contribution to the life of the poor girls and women. Pls keep continuing.

[@martian2lee]

Great woman!

[@LilGee123]

I had to watch this for my law class. I don’t get anything.

[@jondpol]

Inspired by this woman's work this is how to bring much needed change

[@limbudebendra167]

Really worth to see ..the .. improvements...

[@olliele7119]

Most flawless TED speaker I've ever heard. The world needs more people like her.

[@Bonzi_Buddy]

Good lord, this comment just lets me know how many absolutely bottom tier intelligence people exist in our world. She's a clout chasing attention seeking ambulance chaser.

[@HSFinch]

It was a good presentation.

[@sagebismack7404]

Well said

[@JustMe-jj9zw]

Great work! We need thousands of lawyers like her. I wonder if some courageous attorneys could star using environmental laws that conveniently are not applied to corporations.

[@AmericanSpartan]

No we don't. We need far less.

[@Richptl1]

Fantastic presentation. A very wise woman. In the USA our key problem now with law is that it is focused on money more than justice.

[@Spokenwisdom1]

Needed in America now more than ever.

[@pranavthakur8792]

good job

[@MarlaLukofsky7]

Ms. Motley is an amazing human being.

[@laurabrambila1076]

Knowledge is power

[@avonne1234]

Beauty queen to lawyer in Afghanistan. Inspiring.

[@prueensgloria4743]

This aged like fine wine lmao. T-ban definitely undid all of her work.

[@cormano64]

13:21 A well-timed Precision F Bomb is always appreciated. o>

[@kaasaamsuraasarra9881]

My highest Maat Respect to one who lives and practice Maat.

[@harekrishna2830]

I remembered mother teresa. Good job madam.

[@kannieee]

yass mama yass

[@MedEighty]

I wish I had her resolve.

[@johnmarktari4176]

We need lawyers like you in the pacific

[@DOR8421]

4:15 "there arent people OR lawyers that are willing to fight." i just want people and lawyers to understand each other and coexist peacefully.

[@Coffeevaccine]

respect

[@beijaflor1908]

the usa is severely hurting in this regards too. we a people must bring the law.

[@lisasharp2339]

Kimberley u r a true inspiration to everyone, no matter who or what we are. Please keep fighting to right the wrongs of this fucked up world. Bless you.

[@HSFinch]

This is how to bring change

[@donmceuens6430]

Miss Mosley I'm a pre law student and I would be honored to have you as my mentor I have a few selective words. about the most recent turn of events with Roe VS. Wade

[@yasminenasri6088]

wow...

[@austinndyetabula5274]

She became like 10x more attractive after dropping the F-Bomb. Not that being vulgar is hot, but rather it showed her passion for her cause.

[@yourliestopshere]

Shes a lawyer, nuff said right?

[@meganbingca728]

Tedtalk should invite Miriam Santiago. I would be happy to see her do one.

[@Legion1893]

It said the 2500 dollar debt was satisfied, how?

[@beeojeiks6516]

Makes me want to go back to my first love career -lawyer.

[@beijaflor1908]

thank u. ***

[@stylee129]

Real life Olivia Pope

[@sonnyfields1417]

LOL! Maybe. She's fabulous nonetheless. Her, Judy Smith and Kerry Washington.

[@dianewiegel7136]

Amen sister ,the laws belong to the people

[@HristoGeorgiev93]

Calm down ,Jessica Pearson! Harvey and Mike will take care of these people! :D

[@riseup6112]

I found you after I seen what happened Farkhunda

[@maxvictor182]

came here because she represent anwar ibrahim.

[@notoracist]

me too

[@abe_ismain]

"The rule of law" is that everyone must follow the law...basic immigration question. Simple...

[@syahshar2982]

Black women when they assert themselves, are awesome

[@HealthyPlanet]

3:36 - 4:31

[@xgenji_ff5678]

Best of luck for protection ☺️ of every single nation

[@KushiJishi]

"The laws are ours". therefore our laws should be changed in a way that they allow a fair and social world. Our monetary and economy system based on law is unjust in it self. If we accept that corporations have a social responsibility as a moral entity in the moral community, then it should be easy to go the necessary steps to make the world a better place for all of us. What she is doing is great and honorable but we could do way better.

[@BurkeLCH]

What if people took things upon themselves? Many people whine about the governments ineptitude yet do nothing themselves... but complain. Question everything. We, society, created the state. How can it be changed to work in today's times? I don't think we need more laws. We need to rethink how we 'govern' ourselves. Inspire through education, not deter through fear of the state. Ever ponder anarchy? Ever question chaos and it's strange attractors? Ever see Twitch plays Pokemon? What is too radical for thought?

[@ness647076]

With all the atrocities in this county, why??

[@jaystaion69]

5:17

[@LeoReisler]

ESTE VÍDEO PRECISA SER VISTO ! SE SEU INGLÊS NÃO É BOM CONSIGA ALGUÉM QUE TRADUZA....

[@Deadpool3203]

30 cups of tea 🤣… move over, greg mortensen!

[@helmandblue8720]

"Defending" the rule of lawby being complicit in kidnapping. Look up Joshua Mast v jane and john doe and Motley's involvement in the case.

[@royaebrahim2449]

❤

[@kevinebenezer5563]

A lot of legal global, we have sample here in Europe but everyone is afraid to talk about human rights abuses!

[@ignaciomercadozozaya370]

Spanish subtitles are not correct.

[@Deadpool3203]

I watch this 48 hours after the onslaught of the taliban on Kabul, during season two of 2020.

[@LepusZeppelin]

There is a real difference between "Illegal" and "Unlawful" that isn't being addressed in this talk.

[@nathancrawford3170]

Its sad how many young females idolize Kim Kardashian, when we have truly inspirational women like Kim Motley.

[@user-dg3pp4kb3g]

9:09

[@viniciusmarquesii3220]

"I've had a grenade thrown at my office"

[@donmceuens6430]

Miss Motley I'm so truly sorry for the typo in your last name please forgive my vernacular

[@prueensgloria4743]

Dramatic + misuse of "vernacular". You won't make it as an attorney, but good luck.

[@AmericanSpartan]

When is the Ted talks story on Gaige Grosskreutz coming out?

[@Bozewani]

一日人权全世One day human rights for all Un jour droits d l'homme pour alles одень день права человека округ все света Una dia derechos humanos para todos اوم وحدة حكوك النسم كل علم

[@mikayd]

Trying my best not to click away from this, Law and Protection lol not in America. It's all about commerce over here. Made it 5:00 minutes that is more than enough for me. Let me know if I missed something.

[@mikayd]

***** There is no need for the language, the content in this ted talk I found to be lacking. Just my opinion, checking out the 10:00 mark as you advised.

[@kamariahrahmah6249]

This was unfortunately alarmingly optimistic.

[@avesraggiana]

With our Grifter In Chief as president, her talk from five years ago could not be more timely now.