Original subtitles

In the criminal justice system,

sexually based offenses

are considered especially heinous.

In New York City, the dedicated detectives

who investigate these vicious felonies

are members of an elite squad

known as the Special Victims Unit.

These are their stories.

Ladies and gentlemen of the jury,

who are we to judge another?

By what metric should we praise or condemn?

Well, I may be but a lowly, lowly lawyer,

but, uh, one thing that I can attest to

is that tonight's man of the hour

is a consummate force of good.

Now, I'm sure that we can all agree

that in a sea full of judges with oversized egos, this guy...

this guy's got the largest.

No, but seriously, ladies and gentlemen,

I want you to join me in welcoming to the stage

your Judge of the Year, the Honorable Warren Fels.

Come on. Give it up.

-Come on. Look at this. -Thank you.

Are you serious? What... what...

It's a brutal world out there.

Mm-hmm.

And an absolutely silent night in here.

Oh!

You just jinxed it.

Oh, come on, I'm a cop.

-I'm not superstitious. -You'll see.

So in '03, we almost made it through

an entire shift without a peep.

And then John Munch had to open his mouth

and prove to all of us that there was

no such thing as a jinx.

The call came in ten seconds later.

All right, well, maybe tonight's the night.

You just double-jinxed it.

No, I did not.

-What color? -Red.

Crime Stoppers just sent us a tip.

Jinx.

I've learned three things in all my years

on the raised bench.

Number one,

looking down at the court,

I know each and every one of you that has a bald spot.

Number two, looking up at you...

you better remember to trim those nose hairs.

I was raped by the devil.

But most importantly, the bench is raised

so that all can see justice.

He may claim to be good,

but he uses his position for pure evil.

But in no way should a judge be viewed greater

than anyone else in the court.

On November 15th, in his robing room,

he tore my underwear off with his teeth,

and then he forced himself inside of me.

Like Albert Einstein said, "Blind belief in authority

is the greatest enemy of truth."

And the aim should always be truth and justice.

That devil's name is Judge Warren Fels.

No, no, the speech was great.

It was great. Just the... the Einstein quote.

Oh, don't tell me Sonny Carisi

is questioning Albert Einstein.

No, I just thought you could have gone with Francis Bacon.

"Truth is the daughter of time, not of authority."

All right, well, how about this one?

Hank Williams,

"Mind your own business."

Congratulations, Judge of the Year.

You deserve it.

Thanks, Dominick.

-All right. -Get home safe too.

Uh, but I think Public Enemy said it better than Einstein.

"Don't believe the..."

No!

Why? Why?

You're okay. Hey.

Hey, you're okay. You're okay.

I need an ambulance right now.

I'm in The Belmore Hotel, in the garage.

Gunshot wound to the chest.

Send it. All right, I got you.

I got you. Just stay with me.

Stay with me, okay? Come on.

He was late teens, early 20s.

He was about 5'10", and sandy blond hair.

He had blue eyes.

He was wearing a black jacket, blue hoodie, black jeans,

white canvas sneakers.

-Okay. -And he had a gun.

But he was the one who looked scared, Liv.

Thank you so much.

-Hey. -Hey.

What... what... what did they say?

-What are they saying? -He's going into surgery.

And they think that the bullet somehow missed

everything major, thanks to you.

Thanks to me?

The guy got shot in the chest, Amanda.

I was too damn slow.

Stop it.

Stop.

Thank God he's okay.

So, Carisi, how well do you know Judge Fels?

I know him really well.

I mean, the guy was...

he was one of my law professors.

He mentored me.

And he's married, right?

No, no.

His wife died last year. He's a widower.

-Okay. -Okay.

Well, what was that?

What... why are you detective-ing him?

He didn't shoot himself.

There's an accusation.

To SVU?

Against Warren Fels?

No. No, no, no, no.

And now there's an attempt on his life.

He's a good guy.

No, no, no, no. Listen, listen.

I love you both, but he didn't assault anyone.

And I trust your judgment.

I trust your perception.

But what, Liv?

But if we have one motto at SVU...

Never say never.

Look, you two go home.

We'll figure it out. We'll figure it out.

Warren Fels.

69 years old, 12 years prosecutor.

He rose to the head of the Homicide Division,

appointed by the governor to the Supreme Court

and most recently, chief judge

of the Trial Division in Queens.

-And currently... -He's in the ICU.

He's out of surgery, but he's not up yet.

The accusation came in as an internet tip

through Crime Stoppers.

The alleged assault took place on November 15th.

And Fels was the presiding judge

for Saturday night arraignments,

but nobody on the docket matches the woman in the video.

Saturday night arraignments are known to draw

a certain clientele.

Hold on.

-I knew I recognized something. -What?

Here.

There. There.

See her home screen?

That's the app for Midnight Page.

Exactly.

Midnight Page is what?

It's a marketplace for hiring escorts.

So she is a sex worker.

Well, you can filter by preferences...

so female, white, brunette, 20s, green eyes.

You have the Midnight Page app on your phone?

Hey, buddy, if you wanna catch a worm,

you gotta dig in the dirt.

Okay.

Okay, here she is, ElsaXXX.

Let's make a date.

I'll copy her.

Martini?

Is it dry or dirty?

It's water with a twist.

Okay, good. I don't drink either.

Water, twist.

I'm waiting on someone.

Elsa, right?

You're not in any trouble, but no one else is coming.

I made the appointment with you.

Who are you?

I'm here to help you.

It happened in his robing room.

He tore off my underwear with his teeth

and then forced himself inside of me.

Okay. And this was on November 15th?

Yes, November 15th.

You know, I gotta say, we don't have a record

of you appearing in Judge Fels's court

that evening.

It happened.

Okay.

He forced himself inside of me.

I can see it right now happening in my head.

Elsa, listen, all I want for you is justice, okay?

Can you tell me your real name?

Elsa Clark.

How do you feel about coming down to the station with me?

We can file a report.

You work for him, don't you?

Who, Judge Fels? No.

Elsa, I work for the City.

I have said all I'm gonna say.

Leave me alone.

Elsa.

Elsa Clark, 20 years old,

from Illinois, no criminal record.

Current address, Meltzer Hall Dormitory

at University of New York.

Okay.

So, Curry, what is your take?

You know, I don't know how else to say it,

other than her interaction with me seemed rehearsed.

She said exactly what she had already said in that video.

It was robotic.

I mean, it was like she was telling a story

that she had heard but couldn't remember the details.

Well, get this.

There is no robing room

for Saturday night arraignments.

That whole detail in her claim is bogus.

Well, hang on.

Even when someone gets every detail wrong,

they can still be a victim.

I mean, she did seem tense at the bar,

so maybe she'll be more receptive in the comfort

of her own dorm.

Judge Fels is awake.

Now's not a good time.

What's up?

Detective Bruno.

May I ask you some questions, Judge?

Talk to Sonny.

He has more info than me.

I just turned around, and then I'm here.

You know anybody who may have a vendetta against you?

I'm deciding people's fates every day.

I guess someone wanted to decide mine.

You recognize this woman?

A girl?

What's this about?

Do you know this woman, Judge?

Sonny, is he one of yours?

The shooting may have been in reaction

to an accusation that she made.

An accusation against me?

Well, I'm sure you can guess what I'm about to say.

From now on, all questions must go through my attorney.

Thanks for stopping by, Sonny.

Judge, I'm just here as your fr...

I need some shut eye.

♪ I'm a nightmare walking ♪

♪ Psychopath talking ♪

♪ King of my jungle ♪

Some things never change.

Mm-hmm.

Dude, what is happening to you is due.

Is that coming from Elsa's room?

You still have the gun?

Yo. Police. Clear the hall.

Drop your weapon! Hands up!

Turn around!

On your knees!

Cross your ankles and interlace your fingers behind your head.

What the hell's going on in here?

Come on.

So the day starts at 5:00 and ends at midnight?

Who's setting the schedule here?

Uh, Matt.

That's your name, right?

Mind if we talk?

I have to do the dishes.

It's my day. I don't wanna get in trouble.

Who would you get in trouble with?

That kid with the gun?

Jeremy? No. He's...

We're roommates.

We split the chores.

Uh-huh. Yeah, we can see that.

You got a chart and everything.

Elsa, why don't you come with me?

I have nothing more to say to you.

Okay, that kid with the gun, is he your roommate too?

Kind of. He's...

Jeremy was acting completely on his own.

Right?

Yeah.

Hey, Matt, look at me.

You're not in trouble, okay?

So why don't you come with me?

I just wanna talk, and then I'll help you

with the dishes when we're done.

I'm good.

Okay. That's obstruction.

-What are you doing? -Turn around.

-You're arresting him? -Yeah, I am.

I'm tired of getting stonewalled here.

I'm gonna report you.

Oh, go ahead.

The boss already can't stand me.

Did you tell Fels I'm here?

Come again?

Does Judge Fels know I'm here?

Is he gonna want the death sentence?

New York's not a death-penalty state.

It doesn't matter.

He runs the system.

When I heard what he did to Elsa...

So that's why you shot him,

as revenge for what he did to Elsa?

What he did to her was the last straw of 1,000 straws.

What else did he do?

Aggravated assault and battery,

trespassing, theft, extortion, money laundering.

Judge Fels is the devil.

And I'm the one that tried to stop his reign of terror.

License and registration.

Listen to the officer, honey.

He's just doing his job.

Yes, Robbie.

Do you know how fast you were going back there?

This is November 15th

in Pittsgrove Township, New Jersey.

Which means that she wasn't in Manhattan on the night

-that she alleges. -Yeah.

Do we know more about this Robbie guy that's with her?

They didn't card him.

Uh, our boy Matt from the dorm,

he's having a panic attack.

What do I do?

Got it.

I know.

I know a lot of people do breathing exercises

for anxiety attacks.

I'll get you some more water.

But this sometimes just does the trick.

Can I put this on your wrist?

There you go.

That'll just sort of put you back in your body.

Feeling a little better?

Good.

Can I ask you a question?

Sure.

Did Judge Fels do anything to Elsa?

There is no evidence that supports that claim.

And do you work for Judge Fels?

I never heard his name before yesterday.

You know, if you're in trouble, I can help you.

Those look like cigarette burns.

How about if you just nod yes or no to my questions?

Did you do that to yourself?

Hey, Matt, did somebody in the dorm

that you're living in do that to you?

Hmm?

You know somebody named Robbie?

Listen to me.

I'm here for you.

You're not in the dorm,

and no one can hurt you here, okay?

This is my house.

And I can promise you that no one is gonna hurt you

while you're here with me.

Oh, God.

What?

Okay. Hold on, hold on.

Let's... let's do this again.

Slow down your breathing.

Robbie Miller. Sorry to keep you waiting.

This is Captain Curry.

Two captains.

Aren't I special?

Well, you're a VIP.

It's not the best view in here, but we're a packed house.

Crime never stops. Trust me, I know.

You're on speaking terms with the world of crime?

I'm not at liberty to say.

Oh.

International law.

Ah.

What's your guys' clearance level?

Me, I'm just NYPD.

What about you, Cap?

Oh, I never made it

higher than Phi Delta at Siena College.

You're funny.

So my NOC, Non-Official Cover,

is working in construction subcontracting.

But there are certain alphabet organizations that...

You mean the CIA and FBI?

Okay.

But we're here about your son, Matt.

Yeah. What'd the kid do this time?

Do you have kids?

You know, I spoke with the security guard

at your son's dorm,

and they say that you sign in every day.

You live there?

I'm supposed to miss a visit with my kids

because the Plaza sells out?

So how long have you been living at their dorm?

Well, the original plan was five days,

but they keep asking me to stay.

Oh.

I mean, they're kids,

and they like having a parental figure around.

And when you amass as much life experience as I have,

passing on that knowledge to the next generation

is the least you can do.

Makes perfect sense.

And what about Elsa?

I coach her too.

We're all accountability partners for one another.

What's my son being charged with?

Why do I get the feeling that you already

know the answer to that?

It's so fascinating, the way you round your N's,

and yet you dot your I's so precisely.

Excuse me?

You're a cumulative thinker and a perfectionist.

I dabble in forensic graphology.

You're quite impressive.

Yeah, and I'm getting jealous.

So I'm gonna go check on Matt.

And do you mind sitting tight for a second?

Anything for Matt.

Don't leave me hanging.

Wouldn't dream of it.

Another minute, he would have tried to sell us

the Brooklyn Bridge.

Robbie Miller had a contentious divorce

from Matt's mom in 2004.

Robbie was only granted visitation

after a forensics evaluation report.

Well, I'd love to get my hands on that.

Sealed by the court.

He's a high school dropout.

Okay, and then he operated

the Goliath Tile Company until 2021.

Also in 2021, he got jammed up

when the Damiano family was taken down.

He was found guilty of money laundering, obstruction.

He was sentenced to four years.

Released just in time to live in his son's dorm.

A welfare check was called in three months ago

-in the dorm room. -Okay.

You get a name for the complainant?

Colleen Keane, another University of New York student.

Great. You two track that down.

So Matt completely shut down when the father came in?

Yeah, and I bet old Robbie was planning on that.

Yeah.

Rollins, take the kid outside

and get him some fresh air.

What was it like living in the dorm, Colleen?

It's a cult.

He is running a tiny cult in the dorm room.

What makes you say that?

Me, Matt, Jeremy, Elsa,

we were inseparable.

So decided to room together this year,

and all of a sudden, Robbie, just, like, appears.

Why'd he stay in the dorm?

Matt said his dad needed to be to get back on his feet.

Okay.

But he was always trying to get super personal.

I don't know, it just... it gave me the ick immediately.

Your friends feel that way too?

No.

He'd brag about how amazing he was, and they would eat it up.

And I'd say, guys, he's full of it.

He has a scar that he swears he got from a shark attack.

It's an appendix scar.

And then one day, he's...

he's not on the air mattress.

Where'd he go?

Elsa's bed,

which he says was for her self-improvement.

And then he comes to me

and wants to talk about my virginity?

I... I immediately transferred to a new dorm.

Okay, did you report any of this to the university?

What's UNY care? The dorm room's paid for.

All they care about is the money.

So that's why you called in the welfare check.

Hell, yeah!

Those were my friends.

But they just... they stopped talking to me,

and they weren't showing up for classes,

and they were barely leaving the dorm room at all.

And then there's what he's doing to Elsa.

What's he doing?

Some guy in my psych class said he saw her

on a sex-worker site.

She's not that person.

I think he's forcing her to do it.

After my parents split up,

my dad wouldn't let me sleep until I told him everything

my mom was saying about him.

He'd burn me if I didn't tell.

But my mom never said anything bad.

Mm.

So eventually, I just started making things up,

you know, just to get him to stop.

And then he'd hug me.

He'd hug me, and it would actually make me happy.

He's been abusing you your whole life.

One day, I was standing there recording,

as he put these tweezers as deep into Jeremy's ears

as they could go, just so he could get him

to agree that Judge Fels should die.

He recorded his abuse?

My dad wanted evidence of... of how... how weak we were,

how much control he had over us.

And I was the one who...

I introduced him to my friends.

You know, I can't take back the things he did to them.

Like, I'm as guilty as he is.

No.

I can protect you.

Go away.

We've got a warrant.

Okay, we're looking for that camera, any SD cards.

A lot of books on coercion.

What are these?

Financial records.

Oh, my God.

You made Robbie over $200,000?

What the...

Does he let you eat?

Hey, Bruno!

Hey.

I kinda don't wanna watch all this.

All I'm asking is for you to admit that

you know that your parents are conspiring with Judge Fels.

Huh?

I don't remember. Really.

Then either you're not thinking hard enough

or you're lying.

Either way, I'm very disappointed.

Wait, wait! Wait.

Maybe when I was younger,

I... I saw them have dinner with him.

Okay. That's enough.

Jeez, this poor girl.

Sleep deprivation, repetitive questionings, torture.

This is how bad cops get false confessions.

These financial ledgers...

he forced her into prostitution on the pretense of paying

for a ton of bogus charges.

I mean, look at this, breaking the seat

on his exercise bike, $500.

Plumber for a clogged shower drain, $250.

There's at least 12 pages of accrued interest,

all in the last four months.

Money and power, it's the oldest motivation in the book.

But what is the obsession with Judge Fels?

I checked, and Robbie's never appeared

in Judge Fels's courtroom.

Well, the good judge isn't gonna be

too eager to help us out.

Maybe Carisi can ask him.

I'll find out.

I'm not a victim.

I'm reclaiming my story

by telling the world what Fels did to me.

So I watched some of those videos.

Can I tell you what I saw?

I saw a man brainwashing an innocent girl.

Brainwashing?

What are you saying?

Robbie's, like, a hypnotist?

I'm saying that Robbie is charismatic,

and he preys on young people

who haven't yet formed their identities.

That's Judge Fels to a T.

He visited my family when I was young.

Did you know that?

Your father is an electrician, right,

in Illinois?

How... how confident are you that your father,

the electrician,

would be friends with a judge from New York?

Yes, we lived in a small house,

but that's because my dad hoarded money

he got from Judge Fels.

Okay.

Okay, well, it's... it's late, and you must be hungry.

Right?

So what... what do you wanna eat?

Anything.

Elsa, is that a...

is that a hard question for you to answer?

Robbie... Robbie always chose what I ate.

No, you are just...

you are confusing me now.

My parents were corrosive...

corrosive, corrosive people.

I've heard that word before.

I heard it from... from Jeremy.

It's his word.

Whose word?

When I say it, "corrosive,"

I can hear Robbie's voice in my head.

Elsa, I can help you.

I can help you get Robbie's voice out of your head

so that you can hear your own.

Sonny.

This isn't personal, except it is for me.

You heard the word "lawyer."

Yeah, I heard, but, uh,

charges have been dropped.

So you're good, Judge.

Hallelujah.

Leonard Cohen.

Hmm. I prefer the Jeff Buckley version.

So what's with me being shot?

Well, that's what I'm here to talk to you about.

Do you recognize this guy?

Is that Robbie Miller?

Our parents were friends.

He would sometimes come over for dinners when I was a kid.

Last I heard, he was in prison.

Does he have something against you?

I mean...

after I was elevated, he reached out,

see if I could pull a string or two.

Some money laundering charges to be dropped.

I told him I had a responsibility

to report his approaching me.

Last I knew, he was found guilty.

There's nothing else? That's it?

Yeah.

I haven't thought about Robbie Miller in years.

Well, I... I wish I could tell you the feeling was mutual.

This is like the Sarah Lawrence case.

Hmm.

Con man preying on these kids.

Except the Fels thing isn't a con.

Robbie actually believes that he's after him.

Right, because otherwise, he'd have to accept

responsibility for how his own life turned out.

You know, a con man's biggest mark is himself.

Play to his weakness.

Kept you waiting.

What happened to the captains?

Oh, they... they got pulled into something

way more pressing.

I'm just a sergeant, Rollins.

Okay, well, do you know why they brought in my son?

Of course.

So do you.

I bet you're well aware that Jeremy Coleman

is sitting in Rikers right now awaiting trial.

And that kid's going to prison for years because of you.

Oh, you're the bad cop.

I'm well-versed in the Reid Technique,

but you're doing a bad job.

Your first step is, you're supposed to win my trust.

Did you really think you were gonna walk into this precinct

and charm us into giving up information?

We have you on video torturing your son and his friends.

Well, there you just gave up information.

But my son and my friends will testify

that everything on those recordings was consensual.

Who's gonna believe that?

No victims, no case.

Unless what?

You think you're gonna break me?

Get me to admit something that I didn't do?

No.

I'm just here to do two things.

One, put you in cuffs.

Get up.

The other, to let you know that my husband

is good friends with Judge Fels.

And you know what he's done?

He's tried to ruin my life.

Yeah, you know what, he talks about you all the time.

In fact, he's right behind that mirror right now,

watching you be humiliated.

You have the right to remain...

You should have died!

Die! Die! Die!

-All right, come on. -Get him out of here.

My father always told me he knew me better than

I knew myself.

When I was 14, I opened up to him

that I wasn't sure about my sexuality.

So he put a condom on a banana and shoved it down my throat,

asking me if I enjoyed that.

When I said no, he said it was proof that I wasn't gay.

And I was actually kind of relieved

he decided for me.

But now I can see that he's sick.

My father is a twisted,

deeply manipulative person.

Thank you, Mr. Miller.

No more questions, Your Honor.

Mr. Mitchell.

Matthew, when was the last time...

Objection, Your Honor.

This is a clear intimidation ploy, Your Honor.

No, Carisi, this is a clear Sixth Amendment issue.

Retraumatizing victims

got nothing to do with the Sixth Amendment.

My client has a constitutional right

to confront his accusers.

Your Honor, the defendant tortured the victims

through interrogation.

Allowing him to question them will only retraumatize them

-in open court. -Enough.

I am not getting reversed by the Appellate Division

on a Sixth Amendment issue.

While I would have preferred a heads-up, Mr. Mitchell,

I will allow Mr. Miller to act as co-counsel

as I am required to do.

But, Mr. Miller, if you even approach the line,

I will shut you down and revisit this ruling.

Did you come to me for advice about your life,

everyday problems?

Yes.

Did you ever ask me to stop doing these bad things

that you've been saying I've been doing?

No.

How old are you?

21.

Do you exercise?

Out loud, Matty, so the jury can hear you.

I weight lift.

So you're younger than me, and a hell of a lot stronger.

Don't you think you could have tried

to physically stop me from doing the things

that you didn't like?

I guess.

Who invited me to meet your friends?

I did.

Why would you do that if I was such a big, bad guy?

Because you're... you're...

I'm sorry, Dad.

I'm sorry.

We got a big problem, Liv.

Oh, I'm well aware.

Do you even have a case if they all fold under his questioning?

Nope.

But maybe we've got one last chance.

What is that?

I'm gonna have to make a deal.

Do you have it in you to testify against

Robbie Miller face to face?

In return, I can offer you a lesser charge.

No.

No deal.

Oh, hold on for a second.

You're going away for years of your young life.

And the guy who orchestrated it all is gonna escape.

I'll testify.

I just don't want the deal.

Jeremy, as your lawyer,

I have to advise you, take the deal.

I wanted to be a lawyer, like you.

Robbie took any chance of that away from me.

Tell me if this is right.

Could Robbie's defense cite your offer,

saying I was bought off?

That's correct.

They could, and they would.

So if I take a deal, that'll just hurt my testimony.

And if he gets off, he'll just keep destroying people.

He's a poison.

So no deal.

And I'll testify.

Robbie said Judge Fels had snipers all over the city

looking to kill him, us too.

And you believed him?

Not at first.

He would do these...

"sessions," he called them.

And how do you understand these sessions now?

It was torture.

What would he do?

He had these pointy tweezers, and he'd put them in my ear

so far that I could feel my eardrum vibrating.

And he told the same story over and over again...

snipers, murderer!

It would only stop when I could repeat the story back.

I think my brain started to believe it to protect me.

But I wanna make it clear,

it wasn't only about the physical harm.

What do you mean?

I've spent the last four weeks in a cell.

It's the longest time I've been away from Robbie in a while.

Never have I felt more free.

Because I have my own thoughts in my head.

He tried to destroy them, but they're still there.

I'm still here.

No more questions, Your Honor.

Mr. Mitchell, Mr. Miller.

The defense has no questions, Your Honor.

Mr. Foreman, has the jury reached a verdict?

We have, Your Honor.

As to count one, sex trafficking,

what is your verdict?

Guilty.

As to count two, extortion, what is your verdict?

Guilty.

Watch Matt.

I think he might do something.

As to count three, labor trafficking,

what is your verdict?

Guilty.

Order!

Hey, hey! Come on.

Order!

I hate you! You ruined me!

You ruined everything! You ruined my life!

You didn't stop him.

Good.

That's justice.

No, the... the verdict was justice.