Clearing Kobe: Pamela Mackey reflects on court victory that riveted millions.

• Author: Graham, Sandy

The name "Kobe Bryant" meant nothing to Pamela Mackey when law partner Hal Haddon told her they'd be taking his case. Basketball is not Mackey's sport. "I love baseball," said the 48-year-old lawyer. "Hal called me on the afternoon of July 2 (2003) ... and said Kobe Bryant was under investigation for some very serious allegations up in Eagle and we had to help him. I could tell by the way he said 'Kobe Bryant' that I was supposed to know who that was."

She learned quickly. For the next 20 months, Mackey was a star forward on the legal team that worked to clear the Los Angeles Lakers guard of felony sexual assault as well as to settle the subsequent civil suit brought by his accuser.

Mutt-and-Jeff images of the 5-foot-1 Mackey, leaving the courthouse with the 6-foot-6 Bryant, were broadcast and printed worldwide. Already respected in Colorado for her dogged defense of clients, Mackey had gained in international stature by the time the case was dropped by the prosecution. "This is not a once-in-a-lifetime case--it's even rarer," said Eagle County Judge Frederick Gannett of the Bryant brouhaha. "Most of us would never handle a case of that nature.... I can't see how it could not have improved professional awareness of her stature as a lawyer."

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Mackey is still waiting to see what impact the case might have on her career.

"I think time will tell," she said. She's certainly been in the media spotlight before: She successfully defended former Colorado Avalanche goalie Patrick Roy on domestic violence charges, which were dismissed, and she defended Jeanne Newmaker on the rebirthing therapy death of her adopted daughter. Newmaker received probation for her role in the death.

But Mackey's favorite case, she explained, is always the one she's handling at the moment. Nor does she see herself as legal beagle to the stars or a specialist in sexual assault cases. Given a choice, Mackey would favor bringing her considerable talents to bear on the likes of a Kenneth Lay, former Enron chairman, or a Richard Scrushy, HealthSouth CEO.

"White collar crimes are legally and factually complex," said Mackey, seated at the conference table in her large office in a century-old, former Denver mansion. "They're more challenging and still have emotional value." In fact, Mackey said she agreed to a rare one-on-one interview with ColoradoBiz because it reaches a white-collar audience and would provide a chance to explain the depth of her law...