The soft-spoken, 34-year-old Eagle County (search) district attorney took office in December and has less than 10 years of experience as a local prosecutor, but says he shouldn't be underestimated.
"I do feel like I'm ready for this. I'm determined to go ahead and do my job," Hurlbert said Sunday in an interview with The Associated Press.
"It's so huge. I don't think there's anybody who would be fully prepared to do it, no matter how much experience they have," he said.
Hurlbert and this small mountain town 100 miles west of Denver have been in the national spotlight since July 6, when it was announced that Bryant had been accused of sexually assaulting a young woman.
The Los Angeles Lakers guard, who was charged Friday, says his sexual encounter with the 19-year-old local woman was consensual. Bryant is free on $25,000 bail, but must return to court in Eagle on Aug. 6 for a hearing.
Hurlbert, a married father of two who grew up in neighboring Summit County, has prosecuted two first-degree murder cases and several sexual assault cases -- but none as high-profile as Bryant's.
Colleagues and friends say Hurlbert is well-respected and intelligent, but some question whether he is up to the challenge of the Bryant case.
"He's an eager young prosecutor, but his only perspective on the law is that of a prosecutor," former Denver prosecutor Craig Silverman said.
After graduating from law school at the University of Colorado, Hurlbert returned to Summit County, joined the prosecutor's office as an intern and rose through the ranks.
In December, Gov. Bill Owens tapped him to replace District Attorney Michael Goodbee in Eagle County.
Denver attorney Scott Robinson says Hurlbert has done a good job running an office that was plagued by turnover following Goodbee's move to the attorney general's office.
"I think Mark is surprisingly mature and experienced for his age. I think he is a fully competent trial lawyer who should not be underestimated by the defense," Robinson said.
As a deputy district attorney last year, Hurlbert prosecuted Chuck Garrison, a self-made millionaire convicted of beating his wife to death in a rage.
In Bryant's case, Hurlbert spent two weeks poring over physical evidence and testimony before deciding to file charges. He also consulted prosecutors around the state.
In March, Hurlbert decided not to file charges against a British skier involved in a fatal collision in nearby Breckenridge, saying it wasn't possible to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that a crime occurred.
The skier, Robert Wills, was jailed for five days as Hurlbert reviewed the evidence, including a statement from a witness who said Wills was skiing in control. Wills was represented by Pamela Mackey, one of the lawyers on Bryant's defense team.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,92432,00.html
"I do feel like I'm ready for this. I'm determined to go ahead and do my job," Hurlbert said Sunday in an interview with The Associated Press.
"It's so huge. I don't think there's anybody who would be fully prepared to do it, no matter how much experience they have," he said.
Hurlbert and this small mountain town 100 miles west of Denver have been in the national spotlight since July 6, when it was announced that Bryant had been accused of sexually assaulting a young woman.
The Los Angeles Lakers guard, who was charged Friday, says his sexual encounter with the 19-year-old local woman was consensual. Bryant is free on $25,000 bail, but must return to court in Eagle on Aug. 6 for a hearing.
Hurlbert, a married father of two who grew up in neighboring Summit County, has prosecuted two first-degree murder cases and several sexual assault cases -- but none as high-profile as Bryant's.
Colleagues and friends say Hurlbert is well-respected and intelligent, but some question whether he is up to the challenge of the Bryant case.
"He's an eager young prosecutor, but his only perspective on the law is that of a prosecutor," former Denver prosecutor Craig Silverman said.
After graduating from law school at the University of Colorado, Hurlbert returned to Summit County, joined the prosecutor's office as an intern and rose through the ranks.
In December, Gov. Bill Owens tapped him to replace District Attorney Michael Goodbee in Eagle County.
Denver attorney Scott Robinson says Hurlbert has done a good job running an office that was plagued by turnover following Goodbee's move to the attorney general's office.
"I think Mark is surprisingly mature and experienced for his age. I think he is a fully competent trial lawyer who should not be underestimated by the defense," Robinson said.
As a deputy district attorney last year, Hurlbert prosecuted Chuck Garrison, a self-made millionaire convicted of beating his wife to death in a rage.
In Bryant's case, Hurlbert spent two weeks poring over physical evidence and testimony before deciding to file charges. He also consulted prosecutors around the state.
In March, Hurlbert decided not to file charges against a British skier involved in a fatal collision in nearby Breckenridge, saying it wasn't possible to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that a crime occurred.
The skier, Robert Wills, was jailed for five days as Hurlbert reviewed the evidence, including a statement from a witness who said Wills was skiing in control. Wills was represented by Pamela Mackey, one of the lawyers on Bryant's defense team.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,92432,00.html
