The Practice (1997–2004): Season 5, Episode 5 - We Hold These Truths... - full transcript

Previously on
"The Practice"...

We find the defendant
Scott Wallace guilty.

You got to get me out.

-Scott--
-Get me out!

You got a problem.
The man is on the verge
of a psychotic breakdown.

He needs to be transferred
to a mental facility right now.

We were hoping they'd order
a new trial outright.

We didn't get that,
but with a hearing,

if the judge determines that
the brother did commit perjury,

then we get a new trial.

Mr. Barrett, you had
a meeting with Richard Bay



and Helen Gamble,
did you not?

On the advice of counsel,

I'm exercising
my fifth amendment right

not to answer your question.

I have been ordered
to conduct a full hearing

into this perjury business.

That hearing has been thwarted
by the primary witness

exercising
his fifth amendment right.

The conviction of Scott Wallace
is hereby set aside.

It is the order of this court
that he be granted a new trial.

"What to Expect When
You're Expecting."

Somebody here's pregos.

Lindsay, we might as well
tell them.

-Did you order that book?
-Me? No.



That little witch
tricked us.

Either that,
or somebody else is pregnant.

How did that book
get here?

I ordered it.
I want to keep it a secret

until I'm sure
everything's fine.

Who's the father?

I'm going to be
a single parent.

It starts today?

It's a simple trial--
One prosecution witness--

You can't put me on a case
and expect that I'm going--

Actually, I can, Eugene--
Perks of the robe.

Now, he fired
his last lawyer

just like the two
before that,

and I have an obligation
to make sure

he gets a fair trial
with adequate representation.

Well, if you're
so concerned with fairness,

how about giving me time
to fully prepare?

Well, I'm not that concerned.
Let me be frank.

The defendant
is world-class scum.

I'm sure he's guilty
of the crime.

Well, I'm glad
you have an open mind.

Oh, please.
A mind is like a wound.

If it's too open,
you get an infection.

Now, he is stalling

by firing one attorney
after another.

I am not going to let him
get away with it anymore.

Why me?

Because you're as good
as it gets

when it comes
to criminal law,

and I don't want to give
this bastard a shot of appeal

on inadequacy of counsel.

So you will do it.

Helen Gamble will be the D. A.

We all know how jolly
she can be.

See you in there.

Go meet your lovely
wife-murdering client.

♪ (theme)

I didn't do it.
The cop just wanted to get
his picture in the paper

and credit for a big collar.
I wasn't even there that night.

You live there.

But I wasn't there
that night.

Look, did her and I
have a fight? Yeah.

Did I shoot her? No.

They got
one lousy witness, man.

Eyewitness evidence
is easy to shake, Mr. Young.

It was dark.
I was moving fast.

No way he got
a good clear look.

So, if called to testify,

you'll say
you were moving fast.

I'm talking allegedly
by his account, man.

I wasn't there.

Right.

When I left
in the afternoon,

she was still alive.

The cop is lying.

All right, look,

I'm not saying the D. A.
Will go for a plea,

but if I can--

No. I want you to beat it.

One eyewitness
at nighttime, man--

You got to be able to make
reasonable doubt on that.

Six months on each count?

No. Total.

What?

This is a liberal judge,

and he can go easy
on sentencing, but--

And this is important--

He's probably going
to tell you a story

about Ray Charles.

What you mean
about Ray Charles?

He lectures defendants.

His favorite is
the Ray Charles story.

It's corny, but you have
to take it seriously.

I had a defendant
snicker once,

and this guy
doubled the sentence.

I want you to think
sad thoughts

and just get through it
and show remorse.

Okay.

You take responsibility
for the crime.

Don't be saying
you never had the drugs.

Got it.

And whatever you do,

don't laugh.

I'm looking at prison time,
Mr. Berluti.

Ain't gonna be no laughing.

HELEN: She was unconscious.

You were afraid
of how it might look.

You put her in the car

to make it look
like a suicide.

That's what happened,
isn't it?

This is the part
that kills us.

That's the bomb.

This tape got admitted
for impeachment

which prevented Scott
from testifying.

You mean it made you
keep him from testifying.

Right. I don't want to be
in that position again.

If the judge let it in once,

what makes you think he's
going to change his mind now?

Judge Wolfe isn't the judge
for the new trial.

We drew Judge Hiller.

I was responding to a report
on a possible shooting.

When I arrived at the house,
I saw the defendant

leaving the side door
of the house, running.

-This man?
-Yes.

What did you do next,
Officer?

I entered the premises
and discovered the victim--

An African-American female
approximately 30 years of age

with what apparently

was a single gunshot wound
to the head.

-She was dead.
-Yes, ma'am.

When did you next see
the defendant, Officer?

Two days later. I identified
him in a police lineup

as being the man
I saw fleeing the house.

Thank you.

EUGENE:
To your knowledge, sir,

were any fingerprints
found on the gun?

The gun was never retrieved.

Was any gunshot residue
found on my client's hands?

No.

To your knowledge,
was a trace-metal test done

to see if my client
had even held a gun?

The test came back negative,
but it was two days later--

Thank you, sir.
You said you picked my client
out of a police lineup.

-You recognized him?
-Yes.

In fact, you had met
my client before, hadn't you?

Once.

You had responded
to a domestic conflict before

-at his residence?
-Yes.

When you saw my client
in the police lineup,

is it possible
you recognized him

because you had met him
before?

No, I recognized him both
as a man I'd met before

and as the man I saw fleeing
the house the night of the
shooting.

-So the man was running
out a side door.
-Correct.

-Toward the front of the house
or the back?
-The back.

So he was running away
from you?

I got a good look at him.

He was running away
from you, sir, at night?

I got a good look.

Why were you playing
out of position?

What?

That's the term when you're
outside your assigned area.

Call came in
of a possible shooting.

You said you were on it,

but you were
outside your patrol area.

I wasn't that far
outside my area.

-You weren't the closest unit.
-No.

-Why'd you take the call?
-I recognized the address.

Why were you playing
out of position, Officer?

I don't remember.

You don't remember.

JIMMY: My client has been
in drug programs.

He's clean.
He hasn't been using.

He's willing to do
community service

upon release, Your Honor.

In fact, it's something
he wants to do.

And the commonwealth
is okay with six months?

We feel it's a little light,
but we're not opposing.

All right. Step back.

Mr. Babbit, please rise. Ahem.

And before I sentence you,
young man,

I want to talk to you,

not as a judge
but as a teacher

and, perhaps, as a friend.

Now, I know that young men
like you rarely have the benefit

of a male influence
in your community.

Well, maybe for this one moment
in this very special place

I can be a father to you
and a friend.

I'd like to tell you
a little story-- a true story.

Now, many years ago

a little child was born
in the South--

Poor, hungry, black,

no direction,

and more than that,
he was blind.

But this boy had a gift.

His gift was music.

People loved to sit and listen
to this boy play the piano.

But like you,
he had a monkey on his back--

the monkey of drug addiction.

He was addicted to heroin.
Lord God, he loved the needle.

But you know what?
Blind, black,

addicted to drugs,

he beat his monkey.

Beat it, I tell you.

And he went on to become
a beloved American-- a hero--

a black, blind, American hero.

And that man had a name, son.

His name was
Mr. Raymond Charles.

Now, let this be the first day
of the rest of your life,

young soldier--
a drug-free life.

Go forward to make this world
a better place.

(laughing)

I'm sorry.

I'm-- I'm sorry, Your Honor.

-You think this is funny?
-No, sir.

Well, I'm not impressed with
your disrespect, Mr. Babbit.

Perhaps you're not quite ready
to go back into the world.

-Your Honor--
-Never mind, Mr. Berluti.

The defendant is sentenced
to 18 months at Cedar Junction.

Eighteen months?

Bailiff, take the defendant
into custody.

We're adjourned.

Let's go.

His personnel file?

I see he's receiving
psychiatric treatment.

That would be
totally privileged.

Ordinarily, yes,
but sometimes the courts

have looked into the records
of police officers

when they're relevant
to the case.

And what would be
the relevance here?

I don't know, Your Honor,

but you saw him up there.
He's hiding something,

and if there's anything
in those files

that goes to his credibility,
I should be allowed access.

You haven't made any showing,

and you can't make
any offer of proof

that there is anything.

Helen, come on.

I just got this case
with my morning cup of coffee,

and I know Your Honor
doesn't want to give

this world-class citizen
any grounds for appeal.

I'll tell you what.
I will look at the report.

If I see anything
that's relevant,

I'll let you look.

Otherwise, forget it.

Taken out of context,

it looks like an admission.

It was in complete context.

What's more,
silence is admissible.

Failure to respond to
an accusation made against you

can legally be considered
an admission.

First of all,
that begs the conclusion

that this was
a voluntary communication.

Did your client
not get Miranda?

He did, but he was in shock
at the time.

I have submitted
to the court

three psychiatric reports

which question
the voluntariness--

Oh, please, Mr. Donnell.

Defense lawyers can hire
psychiatrists all the time

to proclaim he didn't know
what he was saying.

We have a man whose wife
was found dead,

and he was still trying
to absorb that

when the police
suddenly handcuffed him.

Next thing, he's in a room
with the district attorney,

a district attorney who now
believes he's innocent,

-by the way.
-She never said that.

It's too prejudicial to allow
a jury to see it.
It would bias them.

What Mr. Donnell is saying
is he doesn't trust juries.

Well, that's the system
of this country,

and if it displeases him,
perhaps he should move to Cuba.

Mr. Bay,
did you see the sign

"Check your soapbox
at the door"?

No.

Do I need to hang one?

The bottom line question is

whether the potential
prejudice of this tape

outweighs
its probative value.

The answer is yes.

Let them try Scott Wallace
on the evidence

and the evidence alone,
not an emotional breakdown

which occurred in the wake
of an unimaginable tragedy.

This man is
in a psychiatric ward

as we speak.

-How convenient.
-You know what, Richard?

All right.
I've heard the arguments.
I have your briefs.

I'll take the matter under
advisement, and I'll rule.

Thank you both.

It was totally, totally,
totally my fault.

I kept telling him
not to laugh.

I think I put
so much pressure on him--

Why would you have
to tell him not to laugh?

Well, he gets
extremely nervous,

and laughing
is a reaction he has.

That's why.
I was so afraid

he might get nervous
and laugh here,

I kept hounding him,
and I just made it worse.

He wasn't laughing at what
you were saying, Your Honor,

I promise you.

He sure seemed to be.

He's a nervous kid.

He's facing jail.

Who's going to laugh
at that?

To triple his sentence--

Please, Your Honor.

All right.

I'll have him
brought back in.

We can re-sentence,

but I am giving you
and your client a break,

Mr. Berluti.

I understand that,

and I'm very grateful,
Judge.

My medical file?

If the judge thinks
there's nothing relevant,

they'll stay sealed.

What's wrong?

I've been married 17 years.
I have kids!

Paul, what's the matter?

I...

What's in the file?

I'm gay.

When he said,
"playing out of position,"

I thought for a second
he knew.

So I froze up there
on the stand.

It is totally irrelevant.

That's my call, actually,
but thanks for your input.

Well, I'm not so sure
it is irrelevant.

If this situation
caused stress--

-Well, it didn't.
-...which affected
job performance--

That's what
it seems to suggest.

His sexual orientation
did not impair his ability

to make an I. D.
of a fleeing suspect, Eugene.

Helen, this whole case

turns on the credibility
of this officer.

If he was dealing
with severe stress,

I have to be allowed
to cross-examine him.

-First, this is so collateral.
-I disagree.

And second, it will ruin
the man's life.

And a conviction ruins
another man's life.

You really want
to go down that path?

Your Honor, you want
to take me off this case, fine.

-You will be despicable.
-But as long as I'm on it--

I don't need that.

All right.
I will let you introduce

that he was receiving

psychiatric treatment
for stress.

The cause of that stress
is off-limits.

I'd like to read
the report.

Denied, and, Eugene,
you are not to even share

this information
with your client.

I don't think
you can order that.

I just did.

So, how are you feeling?

I'm feeling better,
Bobby.

You look better.

I'm feeling good.

No more spots?

I want her to get you
a couple of new suits

for trial, so she'll need
to take some measurements.

This time I testify,
right?

Well, let's see how the ruling
goes on the videotape,

but hopefully,
you'll testify, yes.

You got any good news?

All they give you here
is Jell-O, damn it.

Second trials typically
favor the defendant.

There won't be any surprises
this time, Scott.

We'll be ready
for Kyle Barrett.

Good. Excellent.

Good.

BABBIT: And I just want
to apologize to the court

if I showed any disrespect.

It wasn't my intent
to offend you.

I understand
from your attorney

that you couldn't
control yourself?

That's right.

All right.

But before I re-sentence you,

I'd like to tell you
a little story

about a woman, who like you,
lacked control sometimes.

Like you, she had an addiction.

Her addiction was gambling.

Like you,
she wanted the fast life

with fast cars,

but she only got those things
when she learned

to control herself
and beat her addiction

when she learned to work hard,

and she did work hard,
young man.

She had the voice
of an angel,

and with her golden voice
and hard work,

she, too, beat her monkey,

and that woman
had a name, son.

Her name was...

Miss Gladys Knight!

Ha ha!

I'm sorry.

I was thinking
of something else.

Me, too, I promise.

The defendant is hereby
sentenced to 12 months

on each count,

the sentences
to run consecutively.

Two years?

Bailiff, take the defendant
into custody.

We're adjourned.

He can't introduce it.
He can only put it in

that you were undergoing
treatment for stress.

I've testified before.
These lawyers trick you.

What if he twists
one of my answers

and says I opened
the door?

I will protect you.
You have my word.

This Eugene Young
has a reputation.

What does he care
if it's called a mistrial?

For him, he'll do anything.

Paul, within the law.

Judge Kittleson was
very clear in her ruling.

Mr. Young will abide by it.

Listen...

you just answer,

"Yes, I suffered from stress,
and I sought treatment.

It didn't affect me
that night."

Keep it as simple as that,
but do not-- Do not lie,

because then he can get in
the other stuff

through impeachment.

Just answer the questions,
don't elaborate,

and I will protect you.

I have read both your briefs.

I also watched
the videotape again,

and it is my conclusion...

Judge Wolfe erred.

Allowing the tape in
for impeachment purposes--

His legal rationale escapes me.

This tape is outright
admissible altogether.

I'm permitting prosecution
to use it as evidence.

Mr. Donnell, if you think

the statements or conduct
of Mr. Wallace

were a result of shock
or trauma,

you're free to raise that
in your defense.

That is all.

The trial will begin
next Tuesday at 9:00 A. M.

We're adjourned.

You'll get our witness list
by the end of the day.

I don't expect it to change.

The transcripts are in.

I'll have copies sent over.

Thanks.

I want to file a writ.
If that tape--

Bobby, it was
the right ruling.

I should at least try.

No, you shouldn't.
We have six days

to get ready for trial.
You can't waste time on writs.

Let's focus on what
we can win now.

You start preparing
the psychiatric experts.

I'll go over the transcripts
with Ellenor.

I'm obviously pleased
with the ruling.

The commonwealth has always felt
that the statement

was a de facto admission
and that it was evidence.

I'm satisfied that a jury

will now get to consider
that evidence. That is all.

REPORTERS: Mr. Bay...

MAN: This way, Mr. Bay.

Can I get a picture,
Mr. Bay?

Officer Brewer,
have you ever made arrests

where the district attorneys
have refused to prosecute?

-Of course.
-How many times?

I'm not sure.

-More than five?
-Yes.

More than 10?

Sometimes there's
insufficient evidence--

More than 20?

Objection.
What's the point of this?

The point is this officer
sometimes claims

a crime has been committed,

only to have the D. A.
say otherwise.

A district attorney's decision
to dismiss

often turns on the prospect
of getting a conviction.

It's not about overruling
the arresting police officer.

Well, sometimes it does involve
the honesty of the officer,

and that's what
I'm trying to explore.

I'll allow it.

Officer Brewer, how are you
on the issue of honesty?

What is that
supposed to mean?

Are you
an honest person, sir?

Objection.
Sounds like badgering.

Every witness, by testifying,

puts his credibility in issue,
and I'm allowed to explore

this man's reputation
for truthfulness.

The objection is overruled.

Do you consider yourself
to be a truthful person, sir?

Yes.

You live a truthful life?

-Objection.
-Sustained.

Are you receiving
psychiatric treatment, Officer?

Yes.

Does one of the issues for which
you are receiving treatment

concern your ability
to be truthful?

Objection.

Overruled.

It's beyond the scope--

I'll allow it.

Do you have trouble
being truthful?

I'll repeat the question, sir.

Do you have trouble
being truthful?

Yes.

In fact, you lie every day,
don't you, Officer?

Yes.

One of the reasons you sought
psychiatric treatment

is you were afraid your lying
caused you such stress

that it, perhaps,
started to affect your job.

Isn't that right, Officer?

Did you not hear
the question, sir?
I can repeat it.

I heard the question.

The answer is yes.

Thank you, Officer.
I have nothing further.

Mr. Beluti, I'm not interested.

Your Honor, one second
he's about to get six months,

now he'll do two years?
You know that isn't right.

Well, maybe next time
that will mitigate
your amusement when--

I apologize.

Apology accepted,
but the sentence stands.

It's one thing
to exercise discretion.

It's another to flaunt
your ego, and this--

Mr. Berluti, you are
two seconds from contempt.

And before you go skulking
out of here,

thinking of me
as the bad judge,

keep in mind that I was
about to help your client,

not only
with a lesser sentence,

but also with some advice
that could help his life.

Now, you defense attorneys
get them off.

What do they do?

They go right back out
and commit another crime.

I try to reach them,
and I do.

I tried to reach
your client,

to offer his life
some direction

like I have with so many
before him,

and he laughed,

as did his attorney.

Maybe it's your ego
that needs adjustment.

I laughed because I've heard
the Ray Charles story

a zillion times,

as have all the lawyers
who appear before you.

We all tell our clients
it's funny.

We all tell them
not to laugh.

We're all afraid
they might laugh

because it's so ridiculous.

It's a joke, Your Honor.

Poor, black, blind.

"This man had a name, son."

It's paternalistic,
insulting,

and all the lawyers
laugh at you.

I just made the mistake
of doing it in the room.

If that buys me
a jail cell for contempt,

so be it,

but that's what's going on.

You're naive to think
you reach defendants,

and if you punish them
out of anger,

you're also a bad judge.

Mr. Berluti,
I will ask you once again

to leave my chambers.

I'm filing a motion
for reconsideration anyway,

even though
I can't stop you

from doing what
you're going to do.

(door closes)

You said you would
protect me!

Everything he asked was arguably
within the proper scope.

I tried to shut him down--

You said you would
protect me!

Well, I couldn't!

Listen, Eugene Young
is a very smart lawyer.

He doesn't want the jury
to know that you're gay

or what the lie
is actually about.

He knows the jury would just
dismiss it as irrelevant.

Look, I'd like to introduce
what you're untruthful about.

Excuse me?

Paul, if we don't fill in
some of the blanks

for the jury,

your credibility
is shot with them.

If we tell them what
Eugene is talking about,

they'll know
you're not dishonest.

And my family will know
I'm gay,

my partners will know,
my life, my career--

You're basically
the only witness we have.

If we don't re-establish
your credibility,

I can't convict here.

Paul, the guy shot
and killed a woman.

No.

I can't do what
you're asking me to do.

Well, I don't need
your consent, really.

I'll figure out a way
to get it on redirect

if I have to.

You're gonna out me,
Miss Campbell?

I don't know if I have a choice.

Yeah, you do have a choice,
and so do I.

If you--

I'll recant. I'll say
it wasn't the defendant

I saw that night.

No, you won't, Paul.
You're an honest man.

No, I think Mr. Young
established quite clearly

that I'm not.

If you commit perjury,

your life and career
truly might be over.

I'll make my life decisions.

And I'll make mine.

And I would submit
to the court

given all the circumstances

and especially
that the commonwealth

and the defense have submitted
a joint recommendation--

That's all it is,
Mr. Berluti--

A recommendation

either for the judge
to accept or reject.

I have chosen
to reject it,

and I find myself
very annoyed

that you are back before
this bench with nothing new.

If you have nothing new
to tell me,

this hearing is over.

What's new,
in addition to appearing

as counsel for the defendant,

I am here as an officer
of this court.

I am standing up for
the integrity of this room.

You were prepared
to issue one sentence,

then gave another
because you got angry.

You're entitled to
belittle yourself as a man

and as a judge,

but when you belittle
this room

by abusing your discretion,

I'm entitled to have something
to say about it.

Is that all?

No, sir, it is not.

I want to speak to you,

not simply as a lawyer,
but as a friend.

There was this judge.

She wasn't
very judge-like at all.

She had terrible manners.

She rambled on the bench.

She had a big mouth,

and she was obnoxious,

and she had an ego.

Lord, she had an ego

just like you,
Your Honor.

She also had a gift.

She had the voice
of a crow,

and she beat her monkey.

She relished being obnoxious.

She was proud
of mistreating people,

and she used her ego
and her crow-like voice

to make millions
of dollars,

and she had a name,
Your Honor.

Her name...

was Judge Judy.

(stifled laughter)

Mr. Berluti,

you are in contempt
of court.

Bailiff, take him into custody.

Officer, how many times
have you testified

in criminal proceedings?

Probably over 40.

Have you ever been
accused of perjury?

No.

Ever had a case of yours
thrown out

because of unreliable
testimony on your part?

Not one.

You also testified
that you see a psychiatrist.

Yes.

Do your supervisors know
about it?

My watch commander does.

Has he changed your assignments
because of it?

-Put you on desk?
-No.

You admitted to Mr. Young
that you lie almost every day.

About a personal matter,
yes.

Did it affect your work
on this particular case?

No.

Did you lie about
what happened

the night Tasha Cooper
was killed?

No, I did not.

Have you ever lied
in your capacity

as a police officer?

No, I have not.

When it comes
to making observations,

making arrests,

giving testimony
about those arrests,

do you consider yourself
to be a truthful person?

Yes, I do.

Who was the man

you saw fleeing
the house that night?

That man there--
The defendant.

Thank you, Officer.

I have nothing further.

It's a setback.
I won't kid you.

Is this judge
going to go against us?

No, she's extremely fair.

She won't do us any favors,

but this case won't be decided
by her.

This time you will have
to testify.

-I'm ready.
-I can handle
all the witnesses.

We're in good shape there,
but that videotape

and your response to it
on the stand--

That's what will decide
this case.

Well, I have better
focus now, Bobby.

I mean, before I was
still in grief, you know?

I couldn't believe
she was gone.

But now when I think
of what she did--

I mean, killing herself
right after we had a fight--

I mean, that was
an angry act, Bobby.

I mean, that wasn't
depression.

She was doing it to me.

That was hateful,

and right now I hate her.

Scott.

I hate her,
and I'm not going to lie

in some wallow any longer.

Everything is easier now
being angry at her.

I have my focus back.

I hate her.

One eyewitness who sees a man
at night from the side

running away from him.

Could he describe him?

Black, medium build.

No clothes, no distinguishing
characteristics--

Just black, medium build.

A black man in the dark
running away

three, four seconds,

but he got a good look.

Now, we all know
what happened here.

That man saw somebody running.
He then sees the wife dead,

figures it must have been
the husband

he saw going out the door.

He then picks the husband
out of a lineup,

but that was easy

because he had met
the husband before.

No weapon, no gunshot residue
on my client's hands,

nothing to suggest
he had even held a gun,

much less fired one.

That police officer
made a guess,

and he's sticking
by his hunch.

That's what this is,
and we all know it.

One three-second I.D.
in the dark by
a self-confessed liar--

That isn't proof.

Their whole case comes down
to the say-so

of a man receiving
psychiatric treatment

to deal with stress
caused by his inability

to tell the truth.

Do I really need to stand here

and tell you
there's reasonable doubt?

No other prints,

no DNA, no physical
or testimonial evidence

to even suggest that anyone else
was in that house that night.

No other cars in the area.

The intruder fled on foot.

It was that man
fleeing the house.

Officer Brewer saw him.

He was unequivocal in that.

The defendant, Brian Grant,

was the man he saw
leave that house.

Defense has offered
neither evidence nor testimony

to shake that I. D.

All Mr. Young could seize upon
was some psychiatric treatment

that Officer Brewer
is undergoing

for a personal matter.

Yes, he lies about something
in his personal life.

Big deal. We get that.

But he doesn't lie
as a police officer.

It doesn't make him
an unreliable witness.

In fact, in 21 years,

Officer Brewer has had
an exemplary record of honesty

on the force.

He's never given
untruthful testimony.

He's never been a false witness.

His honor has been
beyond reproach,

just as his testimony is here
when he tells you

that's the man
he saw leave that house.

You haven't heard one word

suggesting that anyone else
committed this murder.

Gee, I wonder why.

He's home alone with his wife.

He shot her.

He's seen running out.

That's why we're here.

Go.

The only reason
I don't keep you overnight

for what I deem to be
criminal disrespect...

How long have they
been laughing at me?

Long time.

How long you been telling
that Ray Charles story?

At least I try
to do something.

I care, at least.

Most judges...

Tell your client
I'll give him six months.

Beat it.

That's it?

You want a story first,
Counsel?

No.

Just go.

Came back kind of fast.

That mean anything?

Usually it means
it was a quick decision.

Mr. Grant, the court
will ask you to stand, please.

Mr. Foreman, has the jury
reached a verdict?

We have, Your Honor.

What say you?

Commonwealth v. Brian Grant,

on the charge of murder
in the first degree,

we find the defendant
Brian Grant not guilty.

On the charge of murder
in the second degree,

we find the defendant
Brian Grant...

not guilty.

Members of the jury,
your service is completed,

and we thank you.

The defendant is free to go,
and we are adjourned.

(gavel pounds)

Wow.

Thanks, man.

Sure.

Innocent till proven guilty.

The motto lives.

See you next time.

Good one.

I'm sorry we didn't get him.

Yeah.

Did our best.

Miss Gamble?

Thank you.

I wish you well, Paul.

You, too.

I really appreciate you
coming in with your client.

It's against
my better judgment.

I totally understand.

It's just,
lawyer to lawyer,

you're aware
that Helen Gamble

believes your client
committed perjury

in the first trial.

Ms. Gamble was mistaken.

Yes, well,
I don't believe she was.

Mr. Donnell, I'm confused
as to the agenda here.

-Certainly we can--
-The agenda is this.

I'm putting you on notice.

If your client takes
the stand again and lies,

I'll be taking his house.

-Bobby?
-Tell him, Mr. Stone.

Tell him the exposure
he faces--

Abuse of process,
false imprisonment.

I don't know what
you think you're doing.

If he lies again,
I'll be filing a complaint

against you
for suborning perjury.

I'm reporting this to
the district attorney's office.

You do that,
but in the meantime,

get around to giving
your client some legal advice.

Come on, Kyle.

Tell him what I'll do to him,
Mr. Stone.

Tell him.

You just crossed the line,
Mr. Donnell.

We're just two lawyers
talking, Mr. Stone--

Just you and me.

What the hell
do you call that?

I call it intimidating
a lead witness

for the prosecution.

I got to keep
that lying bastard

out of the witness chair.

You've got a lawyer
in there

who just threatened
my client.

Really? With you there?

Call the police.

Come in.

I came to congratulate you.

And I get
a personal visit for that?

That, and the police
just got into a shootout

with the man who fired back

with the gun
used to kill Tasha Cooper.

He matched the description
of the suspect

Officer Brewer saw running,

and he also confessed
to the crime.

I know you didn't care
if your client was guilty.

I thought you might
be interested to know

he was innocent.

♪ (theme)

You stinker!