Original subtitles

previously on all rise.

You're gonna be one of those creative judges.

You say it like it's a bad thing.

we finally have a judge who's fair.

This is davis sanders, strategist for my attorney general campaign.

- Is, uh, your new law clerk? - Ness johnson.

Meet our newest clerk, mr. Luke watkins.

- It's over. - it ain't over, amy quinn.

About time somebody did something nice for you.

Hold down the fort for me while I'm gone, okay?

we are in for a ride.

I'm curious to see what kind of judge you're gonna be in a few years

when you're not so wet behind the ears

and have learned the rules of the game.

this is way too close.

The numbers are just coming in.

We're only halfway through our reported districts. We're still okay.

- This is not good. - hey, we don't know that yet.

There's no way cuthbert could win, right?

Not good at all.

She had the endorsements and the money behind her.

She can most definitely win.

Where's lola?

robin, just relax.

You said cuthbert couldn't win.

She had a lot of might behind her, but there's plenty of time left.

Yeah, we should not panic just yet.

We ran a great campaign.

There'll be no panicking.

who's telling her?

You or me?

whatever. Bye.

- Who was that? - It was rachel.

She was apologizing for not making it back to la

and warning me not to trip on my way up to the podium

- when I give my acceptance speech. - Mmm.

- I am giving an acceptance speech, right? - Of course.

How many districts have reported in?

60%.

But corrine cuthbert is edging ahead.

It's okay. We've got options.

- What? - No. Option a.

You kick her ass in this judgeship race,

we go back to our normal, wonderful life.

- And option b? - We take a little time out for ourselves

and our 18-month-old daughter.

Maybe a change of scenery will do us all some good.

I have always wanted to spend some time in martha's vineyard.

Say the word.

Thank you, husband.

No.

Thank you, wife.

corrine cuthbert is now leading by 10 points.

I know everyone is seeing the same numbers I'm seeing,

but I am telling you that we are still in it to win it.

I wanna thank you all for coming here tonight

and showing your support for putting your all into this campaign.

it looks like it's gonna be a long night .

But, we are not going anywhere.

- hey, you're awake. - Mmm.

- You okay? - I think I'm still in shock.

Yeah, that was a shocking thing.

Never in a million years did I think I would lose my seat.

I blame sanders.

But...

Might be a blessing in disguise.

Maybe the universe is trying to tell us we need to take some time

time for what?

Go to costa rica?

Or martha's vineyard.

And before you say anything,

roxy already agreed to watch bailey.

And I've been looking at some rental properties in oakland.

When did you have time to do that?

- Your baby is a g man.

I still have some connections.

What do you say?

Let's take advantage of this once in a lifetime opportunity.

Come on.

- Let's do it. - Yes!

- who could that be? - It don't matter.

go right over here.

yo, carmichael. It's me. Open up!

sanders, you are really overstepping.

What the hell are you doing here?

You need to call corrine cuthbert.

Call corrine why?

To take back your concession speech.

You won.

I... I won?

I... I won!

here you go. Breakfast of champions.

And I got you your favorite muffin.

- I even had to fight off a grandma for it. - No,

callan, no bribery by muffin.

Amy, it has been six months.

You're the one who proposed to a married woman.

A separated married woman.

- You said you'd be patient. - By any definition of that word, I have been.

answer your phone. We'll talk about this later.

We're not done.

Bye, callan.

The lola coaster rides again.

I can barely believe it myself.

Somewhere between the last reported districts and the vote by mail ballots,

- it all turned from cuthbert... Thank you... - Enjoy.

To me.

I'm proud of you, lo, but it shouldn't have even been close.

But it was and I'm not taking it for granted.

Wanna celebrate? I can meet you at the beach

- in 30? - Can't, I'm on my way in.

- They're making you work already? - Benner insisted.

In fact, she demanded it.

I don't know. Guess I'll find out soon enough.

- Meet up later? - Where? We've been banned from the rooftop.

Staircase is like the underground railroad now.

- Find somewhere new? - All right. Go good.

Go good.

- thanks. - You got it.

ann?

- Oh, sorry. - excuse me.

Whoa, slow down. You practically knocked my coffee out my hands.

- I'm sorry, dude, I'm late. - Hey, do me a favor.

- Call off your dda hounds. - And what's that supposed to mean?

They're being relentless.

They won't even consider negotiating plea deals with me, especially maggie.

You're the one who left the da's office to go be with your girlfriend at pd.

You know I did not make this worse because of emily.

Well, whatever you tell yourself to get through your lonely days, my friend.

The pd's office is just a better fit.

When was the last time you heard from lopez?

Whatever your reasoning,

most of the dda see it as a betrayal.

- Including you? - You think there wouldn't be any blow back?

so that's how it's gonna be.

- That's how it is. - Mmm.

We still on for trivia night at big wings on Thursday?

Absolutely.

It's been a steady stream from the moment I hit the door.

people are very excited for your return.

Wow, I never thought about how grateful I'd feel

to be pulling up to this building again.

Uh, your first case is a prelim on a smash and grab robbery.

The defendant is an 18-year-old foster kid

who put the owner in a coma after the two scuffled.

Couldn't I come back to something lighter?

When is wedding day back on the dock?

it's just first day back jitters.

I mean, you took a month off for your campaign.

You almost lost.

- sherri. - Yes.

My key card isn't working.

Wait, did they deactivate my card?

Don't panic. I am on it.

- sir!

Sir?

Can you please just let me in?

- Please?

please do not tell me you deactivated judge lola carmichael's key card.

Yes.

Right now.

Thank you.

sherri.

Sara.

Oh, now I'm hearing things.

it's me. Turn around.

- hi!

You're back! Did you finally come to your senses?

I have gossip about benner.

- Okay. One sec. - You will not believe what...

Yes, I know there was a grave mistake.

Now fix the grave and let her in.

Okay, thank you.

wait, is your key card working?

Yeah.

I might need this. Okay go.

Rumor has it judge benner met with the commission on judicial performance

- this morning. - No.

- Yes. - But what does that have to do with judge benner?

Unless it has to do with judge carmichael.

I will leave that sleuthing up to you.

Oh, it's like old times. Okay don't touch that.

Ooh! I'm late for my first day in the da's office.

Or you could just come back.

I miss you, too.

The da is not willing to make an offer.

Am I going to jail, mr. Watkins?

- I can't go to jail. - I'm trying to keep that from happening.

Listen, I get pulled into the system,

then my brothers will get separated.

- Weren't they with your foster mom? - She can't handle them both.

She'll have to send one away.

I promised that I would be the one

- to be there to take care of them. - Okay. Okay.

The store owner is still in a coma.

I didn't mean to push him.

I panicked.

I was just... I was just trying to get out of the store.

With a pair of sneakers in your hand.

But listen, I'll keep working on the da.

Hopefully not having a record will help us.

- beautiful.

beautiful. Beautiful.

hi. Betsy flick.

I was sent over for the stenographer position.

- Sherri kansky, right? - Yes.

Heard a lot of great things about you.

It would be a real honor to work with you.

Really? An honor.

Hey, girl.

carmichael.

carmichael, what are you doing on the floor?

Well, when you're done with whatever, come see me, please.

Ah, welcome back.

thank you.

come on.

this gift giving has got to stop.

Dangerous beauty?

Callan.

Have you narrowed down your selection?

Picking troy's replacement as head deputy da should not be my job.

Ooh, airpods.

- Not bad. - You're enjoying this, aren't you?

Look, I asked if you'd take the job, you refused.

- now it's your choice.

My choice would be you never should've gotten rid of troy in the first place.

- I didn't, he was promoted. - Yeah,

- he was transferred to pomona. - I would suggest

you pick troy's successor sooner rather than later

or stop being difficult and just take the job yourself.

Hmm.

okay, higher.

Down the way. Yeah, switch to the left.

- A little more. - Would you like to ask what I think?

No, I'm good.

- You got a problem with it? - No.

It looks great, in fact.

Mmm, turn her on.

perfect. Thank you, guys, so much. I appreciate you.

In the future, I would love to be consulted first.

Yeah, I did call you, but you didn't answer.

- I don't think... - And then I facetimed rachel

and got her on the way to court.

Although the dc traffic did sound a lot like caribbean waves,

but I digress, I did my due diligence,

and consulted the powers that be.

- And voila. - Rachel happen to mention when she was returning?

No, but she did say something about the case she was working on

somehow raining down money on the firm.

she always says that.

Well, I will just be happy when you are able to take on new clients.

Though, I appreciate all of the organizing, filing,

calling and everything you're doing to keep us afloat.

lisa, should I worry corrine cuthbert never conceded...

Judge carmichael, I want you to meet judge thomas marshall.

The infamous judge lola carmichael.

infamous, I wouldn't quite put it like that.

your reputation precedes you.

Reputation?

Congratulations on retaining this seat at the 11th hour.

- Thank you, sir. - I look forward to getting to know you very well,

so that I can judge for myself.

A little judicial humor.

talk to you later, lisa.

You bet.

I'm not sure if I'm on his good side or his bad side.

I wouldn't think too much on it.

Thomas is a hard one to read.

He can be rough around the edges,

but he grows on you.

You'll have plenty of time to figure it out.

- He's joining the fray. - Really?

Does that have anything to do with you meeting with the judicial committee?

News certainly travels fast, but no, it doesn't.

Just be conservative in your rulings in the next few weeks.

What does that even mean?

Corrine cuthbert challenging your seat put you on an elevated stage.

- Even more eyes on you. - Including judge marshall?

All I'm asking is for you to park the lola coaster temporarily.

You faced the fire, rose to the occasion

and came out of it smelling like a...

Petunia.

Hmm.

Don't push it.

In my courtroom, there will be no talking, no eating.

- Phones must be turned off or on silent. - take a seat.

Be right back.

Maggie.

You cannot keep denying my client...

You're the one denying your client, watkins.

You still haven't made me an offer.

- Assault by means of force. - Are you kidding me?

The great bodily injury suffered by the victim?

The kid can either get a pc 211 robbery or a pc 245 with gbi.

- Either way it's a strike. - Maggie, it was an isolated incident.

What happened to the store owner

- was an accident, my client does not have... - I already told you,

- we're not parading... - A police record despite

- growing up in foster care. - With a no-strike.

- whoa, wait. Maggie.

Did you just growl at me?

- So you're not gonna listen to reason. - mr. Watkins.

Looks like you're the winner and the first person to break my rules.

Let's hear it for mr. Watkins, everybody.

all rise. Court is now in session.

Honorable lola carmichael judge presiding.

- miss sara castillo.

if you had bet me a year ago we'd be working together in the da's office,

- I would've lost my shirt.

- you know what you're getting yourself into? - Yeah, you know,

I finished my training, I shadowed a few victim's advocates

and I know the job's not easy,

but I am looking forward to helping victims

- and witnesses become survivors. - That's the right attitude.

Just like your best friend lopez.

- Hmm. - Welcome.

- So do I get an office or? - Desk.

- Take your pick. - Oh.

Oh. Okay.

Maybe I should find my first assignment.

Tricia ornelas.

Her dad was left in a coma after a smash and grab

in their family-owned sneaker store

- and maggie's the dda. - She's already in 802.

- What? - Good luck.

Uh... thank you.

dad! Dad!

go, go, go! Bro!

Now, miss ornelas, is the person who violently pushed down your father

- in this room? - Yes.

- can you point him out for me? - He's right there at the table

wearing the gray vest.

Identifying the defendant.

- No further questions, your honor. - mr. Watkins.

You said my client was wearing a mask.

- Yeah. - And that he was wearing a hoodie

with the hood pulled up, right?

- Yeah. - So are you saying you can identify my client,

even though his face was hidden by a mask and a hoodie?

- No, um, what I'm trying to say... - thank you, miss ornelas.

mr. Watkins, I don't believe the witness was finished

answering your previous question.

Miss ornelas, please continue.

What I was trying to say is that they scuffled.

My father grabbed him and pulled down his mask.

That's when I saw his face.

No further questions, your honor.

- what is this? - My hours.

- I'm not yet a salaried employee. - You're also not an attorney.

- What? You're asking for overtime? - I ordered

and made sure all the furniture was delivered to every office,

updated the firm's website, updated future firm events.

- I've been busting my butt. - It's called paying your dues,

- not overtime. - In my world, I like to call them expandable hours.

And I appreciate every expandable hour

you have committed to this firm.

Since rachel's been gone,

- you have been an absolute asset. - Now we're talking.

Practicing law, billable hours

will come to you after you pass the bar

and get hired to work here as an attorney.

In the meantime,

if you don't mind.

All of this?

Please and thank you.

your honor, the people call...

no, no, no.

- Miss palmer. - your honor.

I'm sorry to say that mr. Ornelas has succumbed to his injuries and has died.

Due to the change in circumstances,

- the people will be dismissing this complaint and refiling. - objection!

- Your honor... - adding the charge of murder in violation

- of penal code section 187a. - Objection, your honor.

- Mr. Watkins! - I ask that the case be dismissed.

That the defendant be remanded and bail set at 2 million

and that he be ordered forthwith to the arraignment court.

Your honor, may I confirm with my client?

- Do that in arraignment court. - There is nothing to talk about.

Miss palmer! Please try to restrain yourself.

Previously posted bond is exonerated.

The defendant is remanded

- into the custody of the sheriff's department. - Oh, wait, wait hold up.

Hold up, I was only 17.

- How can I go to jail? - What?

I'm sorry, what did you just say?

- I was only 17. - Your honor, I need time to confirm that this is true.

- Your honor, the people will not... - miss palmer, I will consider

the people's motion to dismiss and refile murder charges,

in the event the defense is unable to prove by a preponderance

of the evidence that mr. Paolo was, in fact, a juvenile at the time of the offence.

- Your honor, this is just a ploy... - mr. Watkins, I need to see

- proof of your client's age. - Yeah. Sure.

Due to the change in circumstances,

I will be remanding mr. Paolo and increasing bail to $500,000.

judge carmichael, kudos on your epic comeback from behind.

- Hello, jonas. - And I thought you were a goner.

Glad to prove you wrong.

- Me, too. - Though your support throughout my campaign

- did surprise me. - Oh, well.

Someone comes for a judge's seat,

it's as if they're coming for us all.

And here I thought I was special.

Well, you can go on thinking that.

Just know from now on, it's back to business as usual.

- So good to see you. Welcome. - Oh, nice to see you.

What can you tell me about him?

- Judge marshall? - Mmm.

Not much.

Rumor is that he's even more conservative than I,

which make sense that he would be interested in you.

What makes you say that?

He's headed this way.

hello, judge carmichael.

Judge marshall.

I heard that the defendant in the courtroom was possibly a minor.

- Hmm. - Now I would have to see irrefutable proof

before dismissing adult court action.

It seems we think alike.

I will only certify the case to juvenile court

if the defense proves he was a minor.

Interesting.

this is gonna be fun.

Who tells the cops they're 18 when they're actually a juvenile?

I just didn't want them calling my foster mom

'cause she's got enough to deal with.

Me and my brothers would be bounced around.

- Her house was the first one that felt like a home. - You knew

if they thought you were an adult, they wouldn't call.

I just didn't think lying about my age was gonna be a big deal.

You gotta get me out of here, mr. Watkins.

- Well, do you have someone that can pay bail? - No.

- No. - Well, we need to prove your age.

So I gotta stay here?

Until I get proof,

you stay.

They're asking insurance, arrangements.

I can help you talk to them.

Help you with seeking restitution and finding other resources.

I thought he was gonna wake up,

and this whole nightmare would be over.

it was hard enough losing my mother to covid.

Now I lose my father to some senseless robbery.

I know exactly how you feel.

Have you lost a parent too?

No.

You know nothing of how I feel, ms. Castillo.

You're right.

I want that asshole to pay for what he took from my family.

Juvie is too easy, I want his life for my father's.

You're suing me?

Not you, the firm.

Wow, that got here a lot faster than I expected.

Have you lost your mind?

This is not how you treat people who are ultimately in the position to hire you.

Or recommend you elsewhere.

And though I commend you for this strategic move,

I would like for you to point your powers for bad away from this firm.

It's just a small, little lawsuit, I'm sure the firm can handle it.

- lisa. - carmichael.

How is it being back?

Enlightening, talk to me about judge thomas marshall.

- Has he said or done anything? - No.

Not exactly, but my gut is telling me

that I'm suddenly being watched from within.

Newsflash, carmichael, you've been watched

since the moment you first took your seat on the bench.

Hi quizzed me on how I ruled on my recent case.

- He's testing you. - Why?

What are you not telling me?

Lisa!

she's being so entitled.

Well, you gotta ask yourself two questions.

One, does she bring value to the company?

And, two, with rachel gone, does she make your job easier?

Yes, and...

Yes, but that does not give her the right to sue the company.

- Hey, you know, maybe I should sue you for a wedding date.

amy, for real, what is the holdup?

I mean, is it still collier?

Don't start with collier.

All I'm saying is maybe I should talk to him,

you know, just fiance to husband.

Stay away, callan.

- He has enough to deal with medically. - right.

Can we just get the firm back on its feet?

And then I will turn my attention back to the wedding, okay?

Let me get my stuff.

I just think people are gonna never stop coming for me.

Now I got judges testing me.

Think you're being paranoid, baby.

After everything I've been through, you're calling me paranoid?

Are you tired of fighting?

That's the question that you have to ask yourself.

Which side of the line are you going to stand on?

Just last night, we were going to pick up bailey

and go start a whole new life somewhere else.

If that's what you wanna do, I'm still down.

Look at you, with the sage wisdom.

Is my sage wisdom turning you on?

'cause that's what I need to ascertain.

Mmm, a little bit, ooh.

mmm.

Hey, watkins.

Tomorrow's another day, you know?

I'm not sure that'll make much of a difference.

Are we talking about the case or...

It's okay, you can say her name.

I'm leaving around 2:00.

But there's a reason why I had "bad bitch" on my nameplate, over there.

- Your nameplate does not say that. - In my mind, it does.

And it should in yours too.

So, how's it going?

I'm hoping that my client isn't staring down 25 years to life in prison.

Yes!

Miles's the birth certificate.

Is it the original?

I'm thinking that'll take too long, he's a foster kid.

Fingers crossed they accept a copy.

And that your kid gets sent to juvenile court and not tried as an adult.

Mr. Watkins.

Um.

Your honor, this is a photocopy of miles's birth certificate.

Your honor, I object to anything that's not an original document.

I've got the original right here.

Mama shelton, you shouldn't be here. Why are you here?

thank you for coming, mrs. Shelton.

- Miles, it's okay, everything's gonna be fine. - I asked you not to call her.

I've got his id too.

thank you, you can have a seat.

Thank you, burke.

This appears to be an original copy of the defendant's birth certificate,

showing mr. Paolo indeed turned 18 after the alleged incident.

-Miss palmer. Any objections? -No objection, your honor.

However, that does not end the jurisdictional analysis.

This is a copy of the incident recall report

from the lapd that shows that the incident was ongoing past midnight,

when the defendant was legally an adult.

The victim's daughter called 911 at 12:07 a.M.

And stated that the suspects had just fled in a vehicle and provided the plate number.

This means that mr. Paolo was 17 when the incident began

and turned 18 in the middle of it.

Is that what you're understanding, mr. Watkins?

ahem.

- okay.

Your honor, the complainant in this case

alleges that the date of the incident was

the day before my client turned 18.

That means he was 17 on the date of the alleged incident.

- Ms. Palmer. - The people will be amending the complaint,

to reflect the fact that the incident spanned two calendar days.

Counsel, you are both ordered to find authority

for your respective positions and brief the issue.

For now I'm going to suspend proceedings

in this matter until we resolve the jurisdictional issue.

Hang in there.

You have both made it clear that I'm not an attorney,

but that does make me a non-salaried employee at this firm,

thus I am entitled to overtime pay.

Under the fair labor standards act and california law,

as a professional you are not entitled to overtime pay.

You have made it clear that I'm not a professional, so you can pay me accordingly.

Well, yeah, um... Amy, your turn.

We will discuss, amongst the two of us and get back to you.

Hmm. Thanks for hearing me out.

The audacity.

She is good.

- She is gonna make a hell of an attorney on day. - Agreed.

So, what do we do?

I am going to leave it into your very capable hands.

Just deal with her amy quinn style, she'll get the message.

Bye, quinn.

I'm assuming you know something I don't, which is fine,

you're the supervising judge, it is your right.

But if it has anything to do with me,

please just give me a heads up, because I don't like surprises.

Most, ugh, surprises at least.

I've been designated to the court of appeal.

That's it?

I... Don't get me wrong. Lisa!

This is huge! Congratulations!

Well, why wouldn't you tell anybody?

I hadn't decided to take it just yet.

It means that I no longer will be

with the hoj and working with all of you and, frankly,

it gives me pause.

But it is a huge opportunity.

Oh, it's what I've worked for.

I mean, your decisions can become opinions

and if those opinions are published, you get to establish law.

I know.

So what's the problem?

I just feel it isn't the best time to be leaving

and judge marshall is in the running

to, , take over the supervising judgeship as is laski.

Wow.

Oh, you've come against worse.

Yeah, I barely eked out this one.

But you did.

You won.

Yeah, you still feel the need to be a buffer for me here.

You've come up to the challenge every time,

even pushing back as you're doing right now with me to do better.

And now it's time for you to show them

what you showed me these past couple of years.

why you've won.

will you slow down?

- Where are we? - Old tunnels underneath the courthouse.

Doesn't matter. Give me the goods on marshall.

For starters, he makes laski look like rbg.

He is cut and dry when it comes to law.

He never wavers, ever.

Why are you so interested in marshall?

Because I am pretty sure he is going to become my boss.

- Where's benner going? - Court of appeal.

- So, how's your thing going? - It's not.

Got maggie palmer and berger smiling at me with daggers for teeth.

I want choi's job in a bad way.

- Any ideas? - Yeah, you take it.

No!

No, no, no, I am a lone wolf. I'm not a manager of folk.

Mark, come on, let's be honest,

you are more of a domesticated cat than a lone wolf.

Now how the hell do we get out of here?

oh, my god.

I can't... I just can't believe you're here.

I hope the puerto rico was all that you dreamed and more.

Honestly, I really don't care.

Don't get me wrong, luke, andy, the others,

they have really been pulling their weight.

Especially luke, he really surprised me.

- Carol? - yeah.

Luke missed you, of course, he'd never admit it.

Basically threw himself into work.

That's what I love about you, lopez, your doggedness,

- in and out of the courtroom. - Carol, I...

- look, you're barely back and here you are, ready... - to leave.

What?

I'm leaving.

To go where?

To... Look, don't...

To practice holistic law.

Really helping clients, beyond just their immediate legal needs,

helping them find creative, constructive solutions

to whatever isn't working in their lives

and then helping them navigate through all of that.

- And you can do that here. - I can't.

Not with 50 to 100 clients to help at any given moment. I can't.

- Where will you go? - I have no idea.

Which makes me really excited.

And scared, at the same time.

Both.

But if the last 6 months have taught me anything,

it's that whatever happens, I will be okay.

you always have a job here.

You're a tremendous boss.

- Really? - Yeah.

How soon do you have to leave.

Uh, effective immediately.

But, um, there's someone I have to see first.

- someone. - yeah.

- where's ms. Palmer? - I needed to talk to you first.

Mr. Watkins, come back when you have ms. Palmer.

This kid is not a hardened criminal, he made a mistake.

One plus one equals three is a mistake,

intentionally robbing a store, resulting in a man's death, is a felony.

Goodbye, mr. Watkins.

- I need you. - Do not start a sentence with "can I".

I do what the law tells me to do.

Sometimes you try...

I try to sometimes do what others don't.

I try to give everyone a fair crack at the law

and I try to judge without prejudice or bias,

which is why I can't have ex parte communications with lawyers.

- Now go, mr. Watkins. - Yes, your honor.

the law draws a bright line.

It states that a person's birth date is deemed to be midnight

on the date of their birth.

However, the facts of this case blur that line.

Upon review of the surveillance video, introduced by the people,

the shove that resulted in the death of the decedent occurred at 11:58 p.M.,

which is before mr. Paolo was legally an adult.

Under these circumstances, I believe that the gravamen

of the alleged offence occurred while mr. Paolo was still a minor.

Therefore, I believe fundamental fairness

requires that this case be certified to juvenile court.

Ms. Palmer, if the people wish to try mr. Paolo as an adult,

they are free to file a transfer motion in juvenile court.

Your honor, I'd like to state, for the record,

that I will definitely be pushing my office

to file a transfer motion in this case.

- What does that mean? - It means, mr. Paolo,

that if it were solely up to me to decide whether to transfer you

to adult court to face 25 years to life, or be released at 25,

frankly, I don't know what I would do.

Contrary to what some people in this room may believe,

powerful consequences for such a dire decision, learn from it.

I'm so sorry.

- it's okay. - I'm sorry.

- What's this? - An order of summary judgment.

- Dismissing your lawsuit. - what?

You failed to exhaust admin remedies

- before the california labor commission. - okay.

Well, then I'll just...

Claims typically go first through the labor commission.

- How long does that take? - over 6 months.

The alternative would be for you to just be

a salary professional at the firm.

We would hire you as a paralegal,

while you await your bar results.

Well, let me know what you decide.

- come on, come on.

- oh, there she is. - oh!

you did not have to do all of this.

Yes, I did.

speech.

Oh, no, no, I'm not gonna give a speech,

because this is far from goodbye.

In fact, I'm gonna be right across the street.

Then I would like to say a few words.

Judge lisa benner is a trailblazer.

When I first started this job, she mentored and supported me,

but she also kept my feet to the fire,

never letting up, allowing me to be the kind of judge

I wanted to be, even if she disagreed

with some of my more creative methods.

And for that, she has my utmost respect.

She constantly reminds me why I became a judge and why I belong here.

And this election has proven that I still have some work to do, even today.

I was reminded of my resolve going forward, being staunch

in my pursuit of justice and fairness.

And that will never waiver,

because you have shown me that it doesn't have to.

So, thank you, lisa benner.

Besides being a mentor and a supporter,

I am grateful to also call you my friend.

oh, take some pictures of my cake.

- Oh. - Nice speech.

The campaign training has come in handy, but watch your back.

Lots of eyes on you now.

- Edible balls? - No, thank you.

- so, I didn't reach out to you before now... - There's no need to explain.

Because there's something that I wanted to tell you in person.

I'm leaving the pd's office.

And I am going into holistic law.

I had the feeling you were up to something, I just didn't know what.

I'll still be trying cases in the hoj, so I'll probably

- be seeing a lot more of you now. - Here?

- Or, um... - I'm gonna be staying with my brother,

so there's that.

We're just glad you're back.

Puerto rico was good?

Life changing.

- And joaquin? - He's good.

But he's not here.

Hey, watkins.

- I bet you're emily. - yes.

I am emily and you must be...

I'm sorry, I have no idea.

Dahlia burke, new bailiff in 802.

Oh, that's amazing.

- Uh, it's nice to meet you, dahlia burke. - Just burke.

- Still wanna grab dinner? - Absolutely.

Talk later?

Uh-huh, yeah, of course, yeah.

- Bye. - bye.

Really happy you're back, em.

Yeah.

be right there, sherri, I forgot the card.

Finally come to concede?

I came to congratulate.

- Next time, use the phone. - I prefer a personal touch.

I want you to know this little war of ours is far from over.

I didn't realize we were in a war.

How nice of me to warn you.

I want you to see me coming, 'cause I love a good fight.

This election exposed your vulnerabilities,

I look forward to illuminating them.

- I welcome that, ms. Cuthbert. - I do too, ms. Carmichael.

Judge carmichael.

for now.