Aristotle commented, "At his best, man is the noblest of all animals; separated from law and justice, he is the worst."
Law is a complicated, multi-layered pursuit that demands focus and an unending desire to learn -- qualities that Brenda Jackson has in spades.
Though she didn't grow up with the desire to become a lawyer, she perfectly fits the mold of what makes a great one and has faithfully served Fremont County as its county attorney since 1992.
Every season comes to an end, however, and Jackson will say goodbye to her county duties in January.
To fully appreciate the years of service Jackson has dedicated to Fremont County, it's important to see where she came from.
She was born in Bethesda, Maryland, as part of a Navy family but moved to Montrose when she was in third grade. Small-town life seemed to suit her as she enjoyed her rural school years and living across from massive apple orchards.
Early in life, Jackson found pursuits that she would adore for the rest of her life, including college prep courses, being an integral part of student government and the honor society, and singing with the Belcanto Singers. She also participated in her church's annual Bible Bowl, where she visited both Cincinnati and Denver as part of the tournament, and graduated from high school in 1977.
She immediately leaped into the next step of her education by enrolling at USC (now Colorado State University-Pueblo) as an engineering and math major.
"I wondered around a bit," she commented. "But I eventually settled on a degree in business management and economics."
After graduating in 1982, Jackson struggled to find a business-centered job so, as if it were a simple undertaking, took the LSAT (law school admission test) and enrolled at CU Boulder as a law student.
During the next three years, Jackson lived in Boulder and experienced a complete restructuring of the world around her.
"I didn't like law school at all," she said with a smile. "It's pretty stressful, they re-align the way you think and the way you look at the world."
In 1985, she graduated from law school and took her first job with a law firm named McDermott, Kenoff, and Marshall, which was based in Cañon City.
She clerked for the firm for six months, during which time she passed the bar exam, and soon after became a fully-fledged associate lawyer at the firm.
Fremont County grabbed onto her heart and refused to let her go -- which is evidenced by nearly 40 years of service in the area.
For years, she accepted private clients as part of her work at the firm and dealt with a variety of issues, ranging from traffic defense, criminal defense, divorce, and everything in between. Though the firm she initially joined changed names a handful of times, Jackson eventually became a name partner alongside Rocco Meckoni in 1991.
She remained as a penultimate member of Meckoni and Jackson for the next nine years, but during that time, she also began her service as the Fremont County Attorney in 1992.
"They needed an attorney to handle litigation matters, as well as go to court," she said. "And then they decided one attorney to do everything."
During the next 32 years, Jackson served as a pillar of Fremont County.
She was instrumental in numerous cases that involved the city, such as the arrest of former Sheriff Bob Cheek, who was convicted of four felony counts of tampering with evidence and four misdemeanor counts of abuse of public records in 1993, and other cases that involved potential corruption or litigation.
In addition to the high-stress cases during the past 32 years, Jackson has also conducted countless county-wide services. She spent her days attending meetings, reviewing and writing contracts, and meeting with county officials on how best to serve county residents. It was a high-stress job that, for Jackson, always resulted in something new to learn.
"It's been an honor and a privilege to serve with them [other county offices]," she said. "Very rarely do I see the same mistakes repeated and it keeps my life and my career fresh."
Jackson has been an active member of both the local and state bar associations and has conducted dozens of classes and workshops for county employees on legal and ethical issues. She's also served alongside four coroners, eight sheriffs, and numerous county commissioners.
At the heart of it all, Jackson served as a penultimate staple that other county employees came to rely on.
"She not only has the legal knowledge and expertise for Fremont County, but she also serves a major role for us as an institutional knowledge ... we're going to miss that a lot, those are just not things that you can teach somebody else," said Fremont County Commissioner Debbie Bell. "She can look into actions that the past board has taken ... she knows the 'why' and not just the 'what'."
"The county attorney is not like every other attorney, she has to be well-versed in every aspect that the county government has to deal with," added Fremont County Clerk and Recorder Justin Grantham. "She's so well-rounded and well-versed, pretty much every statute that has clerk and recorder on it, her knowledge and expertise come in handy."
In mid-2023, Jackson announced her desire to someday retire, and the wheels were set in motion to get her position filled. Her successor, Eric Bellas, was officially appointed in January, but Jackson has remained in an "of counsel" part-time position to answer any remaining questions and finish ongoing projects.
"I have so many fond memories about my career and accomplishments. It has been my pleasure, privilege, and honor to serve the many dedicated elected officials and employees of Fremont County, in the collaborative governmental process," she said Thursday during a retirement reception at the Fremont County Fair. "I've always done my best to give sound, practical, and ethical legal advice, to help achieve results that benefit the community and its citizens. If I have made a positive and important contribution to the community, then I have achieved a worthy goal: my work has been valuable, and I am content with that."
Once 2025 rolls around, Jackson will leap into retirement alongside her husband of nearly 30 years, KG Lane. Together, the duo will likely continue to enjoy shooting as members of the Rockvale Gun Club, go mushroom hunting, and fish, hike, and camp until their hearts are content. An avid pianist and singer, Jackson will also continue to sing in the Fremont Civic Choir and also plans to work on her home and garden as a self-described "home-body".
"I'm looking forward to rediscovering interests and exploring my creative side and doing something entirely different for a change," she said.
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