By Sue Lindsay, Rocky Mountain News
September 3, 2004

The law firm that defended Kobe Bryant was already among the most prominent, powerful and well-respected in the country.

The resounding victory won by Hal Haddon and Pamela Mackey in the Bryant case will only add to that prestige, legal analysts say.

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Haddon, Morgan, Mueller, Jordan, Mackey & Foreman "is already one of the top law firms in the country," said Denver defense attorney Craig Silverman. "Where can it go? It's like the Yankees winning another championship."

Haddon is a successful civil litigator as well as criminal defense attorney, Silverman said.

"He's made a lot of money. I suppose this puts him in a position to make even more, but I don't think that's his primary concern," Silverman said.

"As for Pamela Mackey, she now gets the respect that I think she deserves. She was a public defender when I was a district attorney, and she is one of the most ethical, level- headed and talented lawyers in that office."

Not much can change for those who are at the top, said Denver defense attorney Scott Robinson.

"Before this, they were superlative and renowned," he said.

Now that the nation has seen them in action, the firm's increased national presence could mean referrals of more interesting cases, Robinson said.

"These are lawyers who have established practices and no shortage of clients and other responsibilities," Robinson said. "They'll go on doing what they've done for years, which is to represent people effectively."

The victory Mackey and Haddon won is as good as it gets for criminal defense lawyers, Silverman said.

"It's a huge feather in their cap. They did a magnificent job," he said.

"Dismissal with prejudice is the crown jewel of criminal defense," he said. "The only thing better is to convince the prosecution not to file charges at all. That's what Hal Haddon and that law firm did in the JonBenet (Ramsey) case."

Copyright 2004, Rocky Mountain News. All Rights Reserved.