All language subtitles for Law.and.Order.S11E23.Judge.Dread.1080p.AMZN.WEB-DL.DDP5.1.H.264-playWEB_track3_[eng]

the people are represented

by two separate
yet equally important groups:

the police,
who investigate crime

and the district attorneys,
who prosecute the offenders.

These are their stories.

What's it today, Judge?

Muder? Rape?

Possession with intent.

13 pounds of heroin.

Hoo!

What's that get you?

A lethal injection.

I have a lunch today
at 1:00, Rodney.

You got it, Judge.

That son of a bitch.

Are you all right, Rodney?

I got winged.

Get this man
medical attention.

Right away.

Central, we need an A.M.S.,
one man down...

Judge, you better
get inside.

Detective Hill
got out of his car

this guy runs right
at the Judge, shooting.

Was Hill's the one
who got him?

Yeah, he took
one himself.

Really? How bad?

Paramedic said
he'll be fine.

Damn, talk about
smoking guns.

No wallet, no I.D. on him.

And where's the Judge?

Court officers
took her inside.

Who is she?

Uh, Judge Linda Karlin.

Thanks.

Karlin's the one
that put away

most of the Washington
Heights Cowboys

a few years back.

Now, who'd want
to see her dead?

[Captioning sponsored by
STUDIOS USA TELEVISION

and NBC]

Hey, how's the arm?
Not bad.

You did a good
job back there.

I don't know.

I think I let my
guard down a little.

I've been on her
six months--

nothing's
ever happened.

Hey, don't sweat it.

You saved her life.

You ever see
the shooter before?
Never.

How long's Karlin been getting
this door-to-door service?

Three years-- I pick her up,
take her to work

hand her off
to the court officers.

Most judges
take the subway.

Not Karlin.

She's got someone on her 24-7

on account of her reputation
as a high-profile hard-ass.

Where is she now?

Knowing her?

On the bench.

If I don't go
right back to work

these people will think
they can intimidate me.

Well, still,
you might try

taking a few extra
precautions, Judge.

We can get you a vest.

The man's dead,
isn't he,
detectives?

He might not
have been working alone.

Yes, well, a lot
of dangerous people

pass through
my courtroom.

Well, you recognize
this one?

He's about 200 pounds,
six-three.

No, I don't
recognize him.

What about
your calendar,
Judge?

Any gang members,
any organized
crime cases?

Nothing out of the ordinary.

Look, these people
don't like me

and I don't like them.

Okay, how
about somebody

other than these people.

Say, a defense attorney
you pissed off?

Just about every
defense attorney

who walks out
of my courtroom

is angry about something.

You're not giving us
much to go on, Judge.

I've been on the bench
for 14 years.

I was an Assistant D.A.
before that.

I've made a lot of enemies.

We got no print matches
for our shooter in the system.

Any luck with the gun?

Serial number's gone

but ballistics said
they might be able
to recover it.

A run-and-shoot
with a defaced .38?

Sounds pretty low-tech.

Hey, if it was
one of the perps
on her case load

his prints would
have popped.

Well, if we don't know the who,
how about the why?

Maybe somebody
was doing a friend a favor.

I mean, in some circles
knocking her off

would be like
doing community
service.

You sound like
she deserved it.

No, I'm just saying

this woman racks up
years on people

like Tiger
racks up tournaments.

Well, before
we go culling

through 10,000 case files

let's rule out
the usual suspects.

I begged my wife
to at least take the day off

but that's Linda.

How long you two
been married?

22 years.

We met at a fund-raiser

when she was in
the D.A.'s office.

Our first conversation

was a heated debate
over the death penalty.

Sounds romantic.

Let me guess--
she was pro,
you were con.

My wife's a woman
of strong convictions.

Can you think of anybody

who might want to hurt
your wife, Mr. Karlin?

Besides the criminals
she prosecutes?

Any financial problems?

I wish we'd sold
our tech portfolio
a year ago.

You and me both.

Has your wife received
any threats recently?

Linda doesn't like to bring
that part of the job home.

It's all handled
at the courthouse.

Well, the Karlins'
private life sounds
like a snooze.

Let's go check out some
of these death threats.

Needle in a haystack time.

Threats against judges
are tough to investigate.

Most aren't serious anyway.

Karlin ever
get any threats?

She's our best customer.

We need to see
what you got.

I was expecting you.

Anything recent?

I found this,
just last Tuesday.

"Karlin, you
stank-ass bitch.

I'm going to make you
lick my Mac-10."

I take it
the motion was denied?

We found that
on the bench

in one of the bullpens
on the 12th floor.

How many guys went
through that lockup

the day you found it?

I'm not sure.

Cell capacity's
about 100.

I can get you a list.

You ever pursue it?

Even if we found this guy

it's probably protected
by the First Amendment.

There's nothing
we could prosecute on.

There is now.

Court's in recess.

Judge Karlin's
not back till 2:15.

Actually, we need
to speak to you.

Any of these guys have
a case here last Tuesday?

I wouldn't
recognize
the names.

Tuesday's the judge's
calendar day.

You got a copy
of the calendar?

Hey, this isn't
Yankee Stadium, eh?

Hats off!

Yeah, right here.

Thanks.
Is there any way

somebody could smuggle
a weapon in here?

I have two guys

hand-scanning everyone
who walks through here

and that's after
they go through

the metal detector
downstairs.

Is it standard procedure?

Standard for Judge Karlin.

We got a match.

Evan Bruce.

Kidnap Two.

I remember that case.

It was an a.m. call.

We brought the guy in
from the Tombs next door.

We're looking
for an inmate.

Right place--
you got a name?

Evan Bruce.

Forget to read
him his rights?

No, we're here
to collect on his pledge

to the Police
Athletic League.

Evan Bruce.

Checked in
in September.

Any problems?

Problems?

Yeah, you know,
disciplinary
infractions?

Nothing.

How about
psych workups?

That information's confidential.

I wouldn't have access.

Well, we need
to talk to him.

Too late.

He was released three days ago.

Why I got to
come down here?

You realize threatening
a judge is a felony?

I ain't threatened no judge.

That's crazy, man.

More like stupid.

Somebody sent Judge Karlin
this little love letter.

Whoever wrote it
called her a stank-ass bitch.

Wasn't me.

We want you
to write it for us.

Write it:
"stank-ass bitch."

Look, Lennie.

He misspelled bitch.

Again.

All right, look.

I was just letting go
of my anger

for being
in there so long.

Is that what you call
taking three shots at a judge?

Is this guy a friend of yours?

Hey, does he look
like a friend on mine?

We don't know
who you keep
company with.

Look, half the people that
walked out of that courtroom

wanted that bitch...

I mean, that
judge dead.

Yeah, but
most of them

didn't write her
a threatening note.

Why I'm gonna kill her?

My lawyer beat the case
on a speedy trial motion.

Ain't nothing
she can do to me now.

Well, maybe you'd better
hang on to that lawyer

'cause we're going to send this
to the D.A.

and see
if they want to prosecute.

Just got this
from ballistics.

They recovered
the serial number
from the gun.

It traced to
the Lodi, New Jersey
Police Department.

So, what brings you to Lodi,
Detectives?

We're investigating
an attempted murder
in Manhattan.

You know this guy?

Mmm. You said attempted murder.

Yeah, he was killed
in a shoot-out with the NYPD.

His .38 traced
to your department.

Oh, we don't use
.38's anymore.

We went to nine millimeter
automatics two years ago.

So did most of us.

Could it be that
one of your guys
kept one as a backup?

Eh, we traded them all in
to knock the price down
on our new weapons.

You mean there are
police-issue guns
on the street?

This is a small
department

with a tight budget.

We can't afford
to melt them down.

This gun was used
to shoot at a judge.

Look, if a dealer
sold the gun legally

it should show up
on the state's database.

Excuse me.

You Vince Ellis?

Far as I know.

We got your name
off the State
Handgun Registry.

You bought a .38
about a year ago?

Yeah, but I ain't got it
no more.

It was stolen.

When was that?

Noticed it missing
about two weeks ago.

You report it
to the police?

Didn't get around to it yet.

You heard about this
judge that got shot
at in the city?

The one where the
shooter got killed?

What about it?

We found your gun
in the shooter's hand.

Uh...

Who is it?

You know, we could
charge you

right now, as an accomplice,
Mr. Ellis.

It's my nephew, Frankie.

Frank Morris.

Where does he live?

Over in Paterson.

He was in here
a few nights last week.

Asked if he could
use my .38.

And you let him.

Said he'd
give me $200

just to borrow it,
I told him, "No way."

Next night,
I come in and it's gone.

That's a pretty convenient
explanation.

It's the truth!
Look, $200?

I knew something real bad
was going down.

I ain't risking my place here
for that kind of money.

So why'd you file down
the serial number?

I didn't.

Frankie must have done it

so's it couldn't get back to me.

He couldn't even get that right.

So where's this in Paterson?

How long are you guys
going to be here?

Couple more hours.

Then who's going to
move out his stuff?

We'll get back to you
on that.

Well, if Morris got paid,
it isn't here.

Got some nice
magazines.

Hot Lace.
Rough and Ready.

Are you going
to need those?

Hey, here's a driver's license

with the name
"John Sheppard" on it.

And Morris's picture.

Standard issue
for a swindler that old.

Hey, did Morris
have a car?

Uh, yeah.
The Camaro out front.

It's worth a look.

We're not breaking any laws
here, are we, Detective?

Hey, the guy's dead.

It's not like he's
going to be filing
a suppression motion.

These '85s are a little tougher
than the '86s.

Anything before '82's cake.

Got it.

Could have used one of
these on prom night.

Ed, you want to
pop the trunk?

Nothing back here, Ed.

We got nothing here, either.

So what do you
want to do with it?

Can you tow it?

Sure. What was
the owner's name?

Frank Morris.

Morris, Morris...

Wait a second,
I think the Staties

were looking at a guy
with that name.

Looking at him
for what?

A murder.

Chief witness in
a narcotics case
got killed.

Morris was our
only suspect.

Who was
the defendant?

Major heroin dealer
down in Camden.

We flipped one
of his clockers.

He got dead three days
before the trial started.

Shooting?

Middle of the day--
two pops while he's
killing a brew

on the front porch--
nobody saw a thing.

What's this dealer's
connection to Morris?

No prior relationship
we could make out.

The best we could
figure, Morris was
a small-time lowlife

just trying to
make his bones.

Yeah, his sheet
was clean.

Yeah, kid had
a great future
ahead of him.

So I take it you
just didn't have
much evidence.

Nothing we could make stick--
but we could put him

in the informant's neighborhood
the day of the murder

and he visited the defendant
at Rahway Prison a week before.

A hit man who
makes house calls.

Karlin's a Manhattan judge

so anybody she puts in
pending trial

is either in Riker's
or the Tombs.

So we pulled the visitors' log
from the last three weeks.

You find Morris?

"John Sheppard."

Now, that's the name
that was on the fake ID

we found in
Morris's apartment.

So Sheppard visited
an inmate at Riker's

named Randall Wylie
on March 7?

Yeah, they spent
25 minutes together

eight days before the hit.

Well, what charge was
this Wylie in for?

It's a paper case.
The guy's a CPA.

Now, here's the kicker:

Wylie's case is currently
before Judge Karlin.

Have you guys spoken
to my lawyer?

We're not here about your
current case, Mr. Wylie.

Oh. Then what's this about?

According to
the prison log

a John Sheppard visited you
on March 7th.

John Sheppard?

Yeah.
You know him?

No.

Then why'd he come
and visit you?

Uh, an officer came by
and said someone was here for me

in the visiting area.

When I came out,
it was this guy--

Sheppard.

I asked him who he was.

He told me
my lawyer had sent him.

Sent him about what?

He said he was assisting her
on my case.

Assisting her? How?

That's what
I was thinking.

After a couple of minutes,
it became clear

he didn't know anything
about my case, either

so I left.

You didn't find this
strange, Mr. Wylie?

A lot of strange things
happen in here.

I figured somebody
must have just written down

the wrong inmate number

or something.

But he knew who you were?

Well, look, what does this
have to do with me?

A week after he visited you

John Sheppard tried to kill
Judge Karlin.

You know who Judge Karlin is,
don't you?

I had nothing to do with that.

So it's just
a coincidence

that he comes to visit
you out of the blue

and then, a week later,
he takes a shot at yourjudge?

I don't think my lawyer would
want me talking to you anymore.

This guy's about as menacing
as Jeff Van Gundy.

And doesn't even look like
he's facing much time.

Why risk killing a judge?

Hey, he lied about
how much time

he spent with Morris
that day.

Let's see if the Lieu
can pull some strings
in the Frauds Department.

Thanks.

Thanks for coming down,
Detective.

Sure. So what's up with
my old buddy, Randall Wylie?

We're just trying
to figure out

if he's capable of more than
just securities violations.

As in Judge Karlin?

That's what
we're thinking.

Wylie's a CFO of a
small investment bank.

Wife, two little girls

plush house
in Westchester.

Got a little greedy.

He took some stock
from a company
he was consulting.

He unloaded the shares,
racked up almost
half a million dollars

in profit.

But what's your gut,
though?

Was he desperate enough
to hire a hit man?

Indictment turned his
world upside-down

and he was fired
by his firm.

We took him out of his
office in handcuffs.

That had to be tough
on his ego.

And his wallet.

D.A. froze most
of his accounts,
except for what

his family needed
to pay his bills.

So your answer is yes?

My answer is,
who the hell knows

what anybody is capable of,
push comes to shove.

Here are the financials
you wanted.

Wylie's got more accounts
than I got dollars.

Brokerage accounts,
money markets

four checking accounts.

Yeah, but he ain't
got nothing in them.

$300, $400, and all I'm seeing
here are mortgage payments

car payments, credit card bills.

He couldn't afford to buy
a gun, much less hire a killer.

And there are no

major withdrawals,
even before the freeze.

Here's his tax returns:

"Gross income

246 grand."

Wow.

Maybe he put some of that money
in his mattress.

Here's the Schedule A.

You know Wylie's got

a New York State College
Tuition Account?

I thought his two girls
were little.

The College Tuition Program's
about three years old.

It helps people save
for their kids' education.

Can anybody open
an account here?

Yeah, if you live in New York
and have a kid.

How old does the kid
have to be?

Well, you can open an account
the same day you give birth.

And, uh, does the
money go directly to
the kid's college?

You can withdraw
from the account

but you incur a tax penalty
if it's not used for tuition.

Does a Randall Wylie
still have an account here?

Let's see...

Randall Wylie...

Yeah. The account's
still active.

Any withdrawals
recently?

Uh...

There was one on...

March 12th.

That's three days
before the shooting.

For how much?

Practically
the whole account.

$100,000.

I guess he wasn't worried
about a tax penalty.

We pulled the LUDs
from the phone

Wylie had access to at Rikers--

a week before the shooting

there was a call to the bar
where Morris got the gun.

Can we put Morris
on the call?

He was at the bar.

The next day he spent 25 minutes
with Wylie in the Visitors Area.

Money change hands?

Well, there was
a $100,000 withdrawal

from Wylie's
daughter's tuition account.

Any evidence
it went to Morris?

Nothing so far.

Wylie's not some Colombian
drug lord, Anita.

We're having trouble
imagining some milquetoast CPA

ordering a hit on a judge.

Yeah, we're having some problems
buying into it ourselves.

Okay, well, Jack and I will talk
to the ADA in our Frauds Bureau

who was handling Wylie's case.

We'll see how serious
this situation was.

Okay.

You really think
he went after Karlin?

You tell us.

I guess
anything
is possible.

You offer Wylie a plea?

Yeah, two to six.

And he wasn't interested?

Never got that far.

Karlin wouldn't
agree to the deal.

She thought it
was too lenient.

Was it?

It was nothing
different than

what Wylie could've
gotten next door.

But Karlin
wanted top count

no promise
on sentence.

On the next adjourn-date,
she put him in Rikers.

With no priors?

She found out that
Wylie's wife went
to the Cayman Islands.

Offshore bank accounts.

She flew me in and
out the same day.

She's not there
for the snorkeling.

Karlin remanded him
as a flight risk.

How did Wylie react?

He was pretty shaken up.

When the court officers
came in to cuff him

they had to drag his wife out
kicking and screaming.

I'm late for an arraignment.

So, if there's anything else

I'll be in
my office later.

Okay, thanks.

Sounds like Wylie had a reason
to want Karlin dead.

And if one reason wasn't
enough, she gave him another.

You think what she did
was inappropriate?

I respect her right
to turn down a plea

if she thought it
was too lenient.

But it forces Wylie
to go to trial.

How many judges
would balk at

the chance to
dispose of a case?

She treats her job as
more than a numbers game;
more power to her.

A woman after
your own heart.

The voters reelected
her twice, Jack.

We know that Wylie's
wife was pretty angry.

It wouldn't be
the first time

that a family member
went too far.

Well, I have a meeting
with her in Westchester.

I'm going to drive
up there this afternoon.

I'm sorry, but you
wasted your time

coming up
all the way up here.

Actually, I was hoping
you could clarify

a few things for me,
Mrs. Wylie.

If you're not clear, why are you
prosecuting my husband?

At this point, we haven't
made any formal decision.

No, but you've made up your mind
already, haven't you?

He did meet with the man
who shot at Judge Karlin.

Believe what you want.

My husand is an accountant,
Ms. Carmichael, not a killer.

We found the money, Mrs. Wylie.

What money?

The money from
your daughter's
college tuition.

I also know about
the trip to the Cayman's.

First this Judge, and now you.

I thought people were supposed
to be presumed innocent.

If you assisted your husband

in procuring money
to hire this man...

Are you threatening me?

I think what I'm doing is
offering you a chance

to save what's left
of your family.

That money was used
to pay our legal fees.

Now get the hell
out of my house.

Please. You expect me to help
you put away my own client?

We could always subpoena
your account records.

And I can always
refuse to comply.

Somehow, I don't see you
in prison stripes, Danielle.

Well, you're going to see me
a lot more in pinstripes, Jack

because as of yesterday,
I represent Randall Wylie

in the attempted murder case.

Here's my Notice of Appearance.

That's a convenient
way to shield yourself

from being called
as a witness at his trial.

There are ways around
that, Danielle, if
that's what this is.

You wouldn't do that to me,
would you, Jack?

In a New York minute.

The minute Karlin blocked a plea
bargain, my trial fee kicked in.

Here's the deposit slip.

$100,000, cash.

You took your money up front.

And I so wanted to sandbag you
with it at trial.

It's just too bad that
Janice opened her big mouth.

It's a good thing
Melnick came clean.

You'd have spent
your summation

wiping the shoe polish
off your mouth.

Meanwhile, we have no proof
Wylie actually paid Morris.

It could've
been c.o.d.

His hit man trusted him
more than his lawyer did.

So, without connecting him
to a payment

do we even have a case?

Wylie met with
Morris face-to-face

about a week before
the murder attempt.

I seriously doubt
it was a conversation
about tax advice.

Why would a man
like Randall Wylie

stoop to something
like this?

'Cause he stole half
a million dollars.

Well, there's
a small difference

between greed
and murdering a judge.

Well, how about a judge

who wouldn't cut him a deal
and put him in jail?

Frauds Bureau
was ready to take a plea.

Karlin put the kibosh on it.

One would think
our people knew

more about the case
than she did.

I've had a half-dozen
cases with her.

She listens to
our recommendations

but she tends to
make up her own mind.

How did Wylie
find Morris?

It's hard to imagine

his firm has
a murder-for-hire consultant.

Maybe he started
hanging out with
the wrong element.

Randall Wylie was remanded
without bail

by Judge Karlin on March 4.

Assigned C-17, Lower Tier 3.

Is that a dorm or a cell?

That's a single inmate unit.

He was on suicide watch.

Did he make an attempt?

Not that we know of.

In this case, the suicide watch
was requested by his own lawyer.

Did Wylie have contact
with any other inmates?

We have S.O.A.s
patrolling the areas

making sure nobody hangs up.

S.O.A.s?

Suicide Observation Aides.

Staff or inmates?

Inmates. As long as they're
not charged with murder.

To avoiding any conflict
of interest.

Who was on
Wylie's tier?

Randall was wound up
pretty tight when he got here.

Never been in jail before.

Did he ever talk
about killing himself?

Seemed okay to me.

They took his belt
and shoelaces away,
just in case

and we pass by
every five, ten minutes.

Did you spend any time
with him?

Yeah, we talked a little bit,
mostly about his case.

Did Wylie ever say anything
about Judge Karlin?

Oh, I probably shouldn't
be talking to you guys.

What's the problem,
Mr. McGowan?

Nothing.

You know, we can always notify
the ADA who's prosecuting you

that you're obstructing
our investigation.

They got their own set of rules
in here, you know that.

Honor among thieves.

Don't snitch on nobody.

Unless it pays off.

You got do something for me?

If you have something for us.

I'm looking at 25 years
on an Arson Two rap.

What exactly
did you burn down?

A store, and nobody got hurt.

If you plead to C felony,
we can try and get you minimum

provided you're straight
with us.

And the D.A. prosecuting me

he's going to go along
with this?

Our case has priority.

Then I guess we got a deal.

According to McGowan

Wylie was in a rage
about Judge Karlin from day one.

He was obsessed about finding
a way to get back at her

for putting "someone like him"
into that "hellhole."

That's pretty tough talk
from a CPA.

He was looking down the teeth
of a trial and a long sentence.

He had nothing but bad choices.

And his only way out was
the ultimate in judge shopping.

So you actually believed
this McGowan?

We found him, Nora.

McGowan only corroborated
what we already suspected.

I'm sure you two cut him
a pretty good deal.

It wasn't like our pool
of potential witnesses

was the Boys Tabernacle Choir.

But we still can't connect him
and Morris with a payment.

Our forensic accountants have
been all over the paperwork.

So far, no luck.

It's a pretty solid
circumstantial case

even without the money.

So, some schlep goes to Rikers
for a few months

and we manage to turn him
into a cold-blooded killer.

Pick him up.

Randall Wylie,
we need you to come with us.

Can't you see
I'm with my wife?

Stand up, Mr. Wylie.
You're under arrest.

Of course
I'm under arrest.

What else would I
be doing here?

Yeah, only this time
it's for attempted murder.

Randall, what's
going on?

I'm already in jail,
for God's sake!

Tell it to the judge.

I knew I was
right about Wylie.

Right about him
in what way, Judge?

You sit on the bench long enough

you get a feel
for guys like that.

He's a businessman
with no priors.

Are you saying you
knew he was dangerous?

I thought you came here
to prep me for the trial.

I did.

You're going
to be cross- examined

on the appearance of bias.

And I'm sure
you'll be able

to lay that misconception
to rest.

They'll say

you threw Wylie in jail

because of what
his wife did.

That was hardly bias.

And when our office
proposed

a plea bargain,
you refused to go
along with it.

I wasn't satisfied your office
was sending the right message

to white collar defendants.

Are you second-guessing me?

The defense will paint all this
as being draconian.

Wylie was going to run.

I stopped him.

Danielle Melnick made nice
to some young ADA

who'll probably end up

working at her law firm
some day.

Only you didn't propose
any alternative.

The Constitution does that,
Jack.

It's called a trial.

I've given you your motive
evidence wrapped in a ribbon.

And that's why
we're calling you, Judge.

Only, don't underestimate
a jury's sympathy.

I don't.

That's why I prefer
bench trials.

Randall Wylie was before me

on a fraud indictment.

I was assigned to preside
over all pre-trial proceedings

then the trial.

How much time was
the defendant facing

if convicted of all
charges against him?

There were three separate frauds

for which he could be
sentenced consecutively.

45 years was the aggregate.

I turn your attention
to January 17.

What if anything happened

with regard to Mr. Wylie's case?

The defense motion was

on my calendar.

When the case was called

Ms. Benedict, the ADA
from your Frauds Bureau

told the court
that Mrs. Wylie

took a flight
to the Cayman Islands

and returned
the same evening.

What did you do upon learning
this information?

Mrs. Wylie was in the courtroom
that day

so I asked her if it was true.

What did she say?

That it was none of my business.

What happened next?

I remanded the defendant
as a flight risk.

And what transpired
in the courtroom?

My court officers

placed handcuffs on Mr. Wylie
and led him into the pens.

At that point

Mrs. Wylie began
throwing a tantrum.

She said her husband didn't
belong in Rikers Island

that I was out to get him.

Now, in the days
preceding this incident

did you take any other action
with regard to Mr. Wylie's case?

A plea bargain was brought
to me.

I rejected it.

How much time was involved?

Two years.

Not the 45-year aggregate?

Far from it.

And when this plea bargain was
refused

how did Mr. Wylie react?

He was incensed.

Nothing further.

What's your reputation
on the bench, Judge Karlin?

I like to think
it's tough but fair.

But, you routinely mete out
prison sentences

in the hundreds of years?

I wouldn't say routinely.

But, you do impose
three-digit sentences

when you know that
the absolute maximum

a defendant can serve
for a non-capital case is

50 years to life.
Is that right?

I do it to make a point.

What's that?

To enrage the people
you sentence?

That predators who are brought
to justice in my courtroom

will not be coddled.

So I take it
you've remanded

hundreds of defendants
the way you remanded Mr. Wylie?

Yes.

And I'm sure that Mrs. Wylie is

not the first relative
of a defendant

to express disapproval with you?

Most people behave

in my courtroom.

Why is that?

Because they're scared
to death of you?

A healthy respect for authority
goes a long way, Ms. Melnick

especially these days.

Judge, I'd like you
to take a look

at Defense Exhibit Four.

Is this your likeness
on a glassine envelope

used to package heroin

with the brand name
"Judge Dread?"

I've seen this before.

I don't like it

but I'm not sure
it's such a bad thing.

At least the dealers will know
what's in store for them

when they're caught selling this
poison to our children.

Before you were appointed
to the bench

you prosecuted thousands
of defendants

as an Assistant D.A.

is that right?

Yes.

And you probably sent
an equal number
of defendants

to state prison

as a Supreme Court judge,
am I right?

Close to it, yes.

So would it
be fair to say

that you were hated
by virtually everyone

over whom you've presided?

Objection.

No. I want to answer that.

This isn't a popularity contest.

If these defendants
like me, Ms. Melnick

I wouldn't be doing my job.

Right.

I met Randall Wylie
his first night at Rikers.

I was on duty
on his tier

as a Suicide
Observation Aide.

Was he suicidal?

He was mad.

Mad at whom?

The judge who put him in there.

What specifically did he say?

Well, at first he was
just trash-talking

about how, you know,
she was trying

to screw him over.

And then?

And then after a while
he started talking

about how he was
going to take her out.

Killing her?

Yeah.

When exactly did this happen?

I remember one day
he said that

he was, uh, he was getting out

and I probably wouldn't
see him again.

Anyway, later that night he was
right back on the Rock.

But, that's when he started
talking about it seriously.

What do you mean?

Well, he said nobody
could screw him

and get away with it

and he was going to find someone
on the outside

who would take care of the
situation once and for all.

Did you have any further
conversations with him

of this nature?

I remember about a week
before the judge was shot at

I came by, Randall was
downstairs for a visit.

Later I asked him
if it was his wife.

And he said it was someone

he was doing business with.

Nothing further.

Let's see, Mr. McGowan.

You were previously convicted
of Grand Larceny?

Yeah.

And then you set a fire
in a store?

I plead guilty to that, yeah.

Well, did you do it,
Mr. McGowan?

Yes, I did.

Why?

Was it an accident?

I had a problem with somebody
who worked there.

I made a mistake
and I'm serving my time for it.

Well, you made a deal

for the minimal
allowable sentence

in exchange
for this testimony, right?

Pretty much.

And you testified

that you spoke with Mr. Wylie

on several
occasions about Judge Karlin?

Yes, I did.

Did you also speak

to my client
on other occasions

when Judge Karlin's name
did not come up?

Sure.

So would it be fair
to say that

over the course of several
months you developed

a personal relationship
with Mr. Wylie?

Yeah, I guess
you could say that.

Right. You befriended him

because, why, you're
just a hell of a nice guy?

Objection.

Sustained.

Nothing further.

When Judge Karlin remanded me
that day, I was stunned.

I couldn't believe
she would put me in jail

for something my wife did.

What happened

when you got to Rikers?

Well, even before
I got there

something happened.

This inmate on the bus
punched me in the face

and made me give him
my wristwatch.

So what was your emotional
condition when you arrived?

Scared out of my mind.

It was the worst day
of my life.

Mr. Wylie

When did you first meet
Jimmy McGowan?

I think it was
the next day.

He asked me what
a guy like me was
doing there

and basically, I told him
what happened with Judge Karlin.

And were you angry
about that?

Of course.

So what did Mr. McGowan say?

Jimmy seemed to know

all about Judge Karlin.

A lot more than I did.

He told me these stories

that scared the hell out of me.

What kind of stories,
Mr. Wylie?

About how she put away guys
for hundreds of years

for selling a few bags of coke

that in her eyes,
you were guilty

before you were proven innocent

and if the prosecutor
couldn't make a case

she would do it
for them.

How many times

did Mr. McGowan talk
to you about Judge Karlin?

Just about every time
he had the chance.

He said that if I didn't
figure out some way

to get out from under her,
my case was hopeless.

She'd send me upstate
and my wife would divorce me.

I'd never see my kids again.

So what happened next?

Jimmy offered to help.

Really?

What was his offer?

He said he can
put me in touch

with someone
who could take care

of the situation for me.

I asked him what he meant.

He said, "What do you think
I mean?"

And what did you think
he meant, Mr. Wylie?

A professional killer.

What happened next?

Well, he mentioned this
three or four times

and I would say "No, no."

And then one day
out of the blue

he said there was a guy
coming to the visiting room

to meet me.

I should at least hear
what he had to say.

So you actually had

a face-to-face meeting
with Frank Morris?

I know how
it sounds

but I just needed
to get Jimmy

off my back.

So I went down for the meeting.

Where Frank Morris was
waiting for you?

And I started
to tell him

that I didn't want
to go through with it.

And then he mentioned that
he knew where my house was

where my kids went to school.

So what did you do?

I went back
to my cell

and I thought
to myself

"This is absolutely insane.

I can't believe I got myself
involved with these people."

So the next time I saw Jimmy
I told him

that I was just going to take
my chances with Judge Karlin.

And how did Mr. McGowan react?

He said, "Hey, it's your life
going down the drain."

And that was the last time
we talked about it.

About a week later
I found out what happened.

I couldn't believe it.

Mr. Wylie, did you ever
hire Frank Morris

to kill Judge Karlin?

Absolutely not.

Did you ever pay him

or anyone else
any money to do that?

Not a cent.

Thank you.

Did we get duped?

Either that
or Wylie gave

an award-winning performance.

Jack?

Hard to say.
But Wylie's a scam artist.

That's why they threw him
in prison in the first place.

He was in jail

because Judge Karlin
threw him in there.

We throw people
in jail every day.

How many of them
end up discussing payback

with a hired killer?

Only if McGowan were a cop,
they'd be arguing entrapment

that Wylie was induced
to commit a crime

he never would have
committed otherwise.

He'd probably walk
away from this.

Only McGowan wasn't a cop.

No. I know exactly who he was.

He was an arsonist
who got the minimum.

It'd mean he planned

this from the start.

That he knew we were going
to come looking for him.

He set himself up to be a hero.

Who's playing us, Nora?

A guy who sets fires
or a guy who mined the loopholes

in the Security Act of 1934?

We bet on the wrong horse,
that's all.

Desperate people

do desperate things.

It doesn't matter
what company they keep.

Why do you always believe
the worst in people?

Who, me?

Spend a few more years
in this place

you'll be right there with us.

I like to think
I can do this job

without becoming a cynic.

I'm not a cynic.

I get up every morning
hoping to find an honest man.

Then let's make sure

the punishment fits the crime.

If McGowan got three to six

and there's the least chance
he pushed Wylie into this

then Wylie shouldn't do
25 to life.

You're the boss.

Asking to meet
with the defendant

the night before
you cross-examine him...

this is a first
even for you, Jack.

We have an offer.

Like I said, this is a first.

What is it?

121/////2 to 25.

Y-years?

You tried to kill
a judge.

Don't you understand
how it happened?

We heard what you tried
to sell to the jury.

After everything McGowan

supposedly said to you,
there's no way

you expected him
to call it off.

Whatever pressures
you were under, Mr. Wylie

they don't excuse
your actions.

I'm assuming we have
blanket immunity in here?

Queen for a day.

Go ahead.

They were threatening me.

I didn't know
what else to do.

How about reporting it
to the authorities?

The authorities can't
protect you in here.

You could have
told someone

you had a change of heart.

Or you could have
tried to stop it.

I was scared.

Too scared to tell
your own lawyer?

If he testifies

he told you, Danielle

we'll call you
to corroborate it.

You made no effort
to openly repudiate
the crime, Mr. Wylie.

The law's clear
on renunciation.

You can't make it out.

I think my lawyer's doing
pretty well.

All she's done is
create some sympathy.

Once I cross-examine you

the jury won't have
much of it left.

You'll spend the rest
of your life in prison.

If you're so confident, Jack,
why the offer?

In our minds
there's a sliver of doubt

that if Jimmy McGowan hadn't
been assigned

to your client's tier,
we wouldn't be here today.

You made some

foolish decisions,
Mr. Wylie.

Don't make another one.

I heard you're cutting
a deal with Wylie.

That's right.

What's he getting?

121/////2 to 25.

That's outrageous.

I have given out more time
for narcotics possession.

That's well known.

When Wylie took
a shot at me

he took a shot
at every judge
in the courthouse.

He'll be coming after
prosecutors next.

No matter how much time
Wylie gets

I don't think it's going
to deter the next maniac

and I also don't think
it's appropriate

for you to be here
putting in your two cents.

I am the victim in this case.

I should have been consulted.

Your feelings

toward this defendant
have been duly noted.

Are you questioning my
impartiality, Nora?

Everyone here
respects your courage

all the sacrifices that you
and your family have made.

We just come
from two different places.

I try to enforce the law.

You try to compromise it.

It's called prosecutorial
discretion.

So you make
a bargain

with Jimmy McGowan,
then it backfires

and you have to cut a deal
with Wylie?

I'm not happy about McGowan.

But any judge
who reflexively imposes

the maximum in every case

just forces the
hard decisions
on the rest of us.

I changed this city!

In case you hadn't noticed it

you can walk down the streets
these days

without having to kick
a crack vial out of your way

to the sound of gunfire
in the background!

It'll make a great sound bite
one day.

I'm still not changing
my decision about Wylie.

Do whatever you want.

I still have him in front
of me on securities fraud.

That indictment was covered
by the plea bargain.

How can you possibly think
that's appropriate?!

It's my job.

Until someone else is
sitting in this chair

I'll continue to do
what I think is right.

Judge Karlin called.

She wants to make
a victim impact statement

at Wylie's sentencing.

That's her right.

So all things
being equal

is Wylie a killer?

It's a tough question.

Does the man make Rikers

or does Rikers
make the man?

I think Judge Karlin

had something
to do with it.

Funny thing is

Wylie got away from her.

It's what he's been trying
to do all along.

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