The Denver Post
DA Hurlbert won't take part in Bryant trial
Wednesday, June 30, 2004 -
District Attorney Mark Hurlbert, who has been deeply involved in the sex-assault case against Kobe Bryant for months, announced today he won't personally participate in the prosecution during the basketball star's upcoming trial.
Hurlbert, who has frequently been criticized for a lackluster courtroom performance on this case, will turn the actual trial work over to a team consisting of Ingrid Bakke, Dana Easter and Gregg Crittenden. Hurlbert, a Republican, is facing opposition in the November DA's election from Democrat Bruce Brown. Former Denver prosecutor Nathan Chambers had a strong reaction to today's announcement. "Wow! My cynical nature interprets that as someone abandoning the ship as it goes down," said Chambers, who now does defense work. "He's been out in front of this case and out in front of it from the beginning when he personally announced the decision to file," Chambers said. "It couldn't have come as a revelation to him at the 11th hour that this case was going to take a significant amount of time. It's been my perception in recent months that the prosecution of this case is in disarray and this announcement confirms that." Hurlbert said in a press release that he will continue to provide general oversight to the case, but said he can't ignore his overall duties of office. "I have a duty to every citizen in the 5th Judicial District and if I maintain a high level of involvement in the case, I would be neglecting that duty," Hurlbert said. Easter and Bakke are experienced sex assault prosecutors brought in from other DA offices. Crittenden is a chief deputy district attorney in the 5th Judicial District, where the trial is being held.
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Hurlbert was appointed by Gov. Bill Owens in December 2002 to fill the unexpired term of his mentor, Mike Goodbee. Krista Flannigan, spokeswoman for Hurlbert, said that any criticism of Hurlbert's performance had "nothing to do" with his decision. "This is something that has been in the works for a long time," she said. "Once you get in the middle of it, you know how much work in going to be involved. You kind of speculate in the beginning, but now we know. "He was taking into consideration lot of information and just decided that in order for him to do his job as DA he cannot level of work required for this kind of case," she added. Flannigan noted that Hurlbert's district has four counties and a total of nine prosecutors. Asked if the fact that Hurlbert is facing opposition for election was a reason for his decision, Flannigan said: "I think it certainly was part of it, but it was one of many factors." In the press release, Hurlbert said he is pleased that that an Aug. 27 trial date has been scheduled and hopes it will provide some relief to Bryant’s accuser and her family.
He added that the three prosecutors who will carry the trial load are “an excellent and highly competent trial team, and I have confidence that justice will be served.”
Howard Pankratz can be reached at 303-820-1939 or hpankratz@denverpost.com.
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