All language subtitles for The.Practice.S04E10.Day.in.Court.HULU.WEB-DL.AAC2.0.H.264-AJP69_track3_[eng]

Voluntary?

With good behavior
and time served,

you could be out in seven.
It's a good deal.

Not a chance.
Take the deal,
Eddie.

We are not doing well
in there. They have pictures,

they have the murder weapon,
and we have nothing.

Two witnesses testified
that you told them

you were going to kill
the victim.

It was self-defense.
You said it in there.

You stabbed him
seven times.

Did you take a look
at that jury?

Why the hell should I?

Look at me.
With this deal,

I can lobby for a lower
security facility,

maybe even conjugal visits.

In my opinion,
the D. A.'s offering you

better than you deserve.

Someone's got to get
that bony-assed bitch.

Look, I've about
had it with you.

Good. Then you can get
your not-so-bony-ass self

Eddie.
Out of here.

I ain't taking voluntary.
I paid you 90,000 bucks.

Which is probably
drug money.

You took it,
like you always have.

Now why don't you take 20
of it and go buy a juror?

I don't care.
Just get me off.

( music playing )

What's this I hear you offered

that cokehead manslaughter?

Relax, Richard.

It was first degree, Helen.
Is this the Christmas spirit?

He turned the deal down.

Excuse me?

The cokehead's sticking
to self-defense.

What? That means
he'll have to testify.

No problem. I testify.

Yeah, there is a problem.
Once you take the stand,

they could introduce all
your felonies to impeach you.

Drug felonies. I never killed
anybody before, right, 'Genie?

Well, I've never
killed anybody before either.

You call me 'Genie one more
time, that could change.

Look, just ask me the questions,
and I'll say what happened.

Eddie, are you
coked up now?

I'm in lock-up.
How do I get anything?

Look, you've seen enough
of Helen Gamble to know

she's going
to be aggressive.

Let her come.

Bobby, he's high. We can't
let him take the stand --

Stay out of this, 'Genie.
You're second chair.

Eugene, excuse us
for a second,

would you, please?

You want your 90 grand
back, Eddie?

'Cause I'll write you
a check with interest

right now and walk away.

Business is good,
huh Bobby?

You wouldn't walk away
from my money 10 years ago.

What makes me sick here
is I helped build your firm.

Over 10 years,
I poured a million bucks

in and out of your place,
and you took it.

You took it. You took it,

knowing exactly
where it came from.

Knowing exactly how
I got it. You took it.

I'm not going
to listen to this.

Hey, maybe you didn't
break any laws, Bobby,

but you and I both know
you laundered my money.

I'd give you a big retainer,

you'd give me half back
after the case was over.

You laundered drug money.

Now you judge me.

You stride in here
in your fancy suit.

You moved up,
and now you judge me?

Don't you lump me
into what you are.

I was never what you are.
I'll never be what you are.

I was a lawyer
representing scum...
EDDIE: You defended me.
You fought

for me because
the money was right.

Which I'm obviously
still doing today!

Now you think you're
something too good!

You stabbed a person
seven times.

Eddie, you're a murderer.
That's how I judge you!

Hey, counselor,
it was self-defense.

Step back, Eddie.

Step back.

I had sold him some heroin
three days before.

The victim?

Yes, and then
he shows up at my house,

rambling about how
the stuff wasn't pure.

I could tell
he was wired.

On heroin?

Or something.

Anyway, he starts
going on

about how he's going
to mess me up,

and he came at me.
We get into a struggle,

and suddenly he's got me
by the throat,

and that's when
I reached for my knife.

Where was the knife?

In my pocket.
It was a switchblade.

He had me by the throat.
I wasn't getting any air.

I'm thinking,
"This is it. I'm dying."

And then I got my knife out
and just started stabbing.

How many times did you
stab him with the knife, Eddie?

I didn't know at the time.
They tell me seven.

I just kept stabbing
at the guy

till he fell off
of me.

Eddie, why didn't
you call the police?

Because I'm a drug dealer,
Mr. Donnell. I sell heroin.

I didn't figure the police
to be too sympathetic,

but I acted in self-defense
that night.

I'm no model citizen,
I admit,

but I'm no murderer.

Seven times you stabbed him
before he fell off you?

That's right.

Because he was
strangling you.

Yes.

How much do you weigh,
Mr. Wicks?

Around 175.

Do you know how much
the victim weighed?

No.

Would it surprise you to learn
he weighed 135 pounds,

40 pounds less than you?

When a guy has you by the neck,
size doesn't matter too much.

Doctors find any bruising
around your neck?

No.

Did the victim
owe you money, Mr. Wicks?

This wasn't about that.

Did the victim
owe you money, sir?

Yes.

How much?

Around $60,000.

This debt was incurred
through past drug sales?

Yes.

You've been convicted
three times

for selling
and possessing drugs?

I'm a drug guy. I said it,
but I'm not a killer.

Did you tell Mr. Olson
you'd kill him

if he didn't satisfy
his debt?

I had previously
threatened him, yes,

but this incident here
was self-defense.

You said the victim
just showed up at your house.

Did you call him
shortly before he came?

Yes, to discuss
his outstanding account.

You didn't invite him over
so you could kill him?

Objection.
Objection.

Sustained.

Ever stab anybody else
with a switchblade, Mr. Wicks?

Drug trafficking is
a tough trade, Ms. Gamble.

Sometimes I've had
to use my knife,

but this instance here
was self-defense.

That's a yes.

You have used your knife
to stab people before.

Yes.

Mistrial? Because of
the expression on my face?

You all but told the jury
not to believe him.
I did no such thing.

You were so obviously
rejecting his testimony.

Forget it.

Your honor.

First of all,
I was not shooting any looks.

Second, I wouldn't be conveying
that kind of a look anyway

because I don't necessarily
believe that your little

scum-sucking, lying,
murdering client is guilty.

He could've just been
temporarily insane

and under the delusion

that he was stabbing
his own mother.

You think that's funny?

Who do you think
you're kidding?

You're in here
looking for a mistrial

because you know
just like I know

what the verdict
is going to be.

Let me tell you,
counsel.

I don't play those games.
And just for asking,

I'm hitting you
with a $500 fine.

Appealed.

So noted. Mistrial.

He actually moved
for a mistrial?

You know Bobby.
If things are desperate,

he'll try anything.

I suppose if I ever
killed anybody,

he'd be the guy I'd call.

Helen, I, uh, I notice you got
a little mistletoe hanging.

Where?

Oh, God. Maintenance
must have done that.

Even so...

Don't harass me,
Richard.

You liked my kiss.
You said so.

I said it was nice.

That doesn't mean
it couldn't use a little work.

( sighs )

Oh, now you're hurt.

What was wrong with it?

It was lovely.

No, no,
don't patronize me, Helen.

Just tell me.

( sighs )
Okay, well,

your little tongue
was shooting around everywhere

like a lizard
trying to catch a fly.

That's a technique.

Technique? Richard,
it was darting in and out.

All right, look.

That's what
a good kiss is like.

The tongue should know
what it's doing.

He got to you,
didn't he?

Well, he had a point.

I half-built this place
doing drug cases.

Should I give you the speech
you always give me?

Drug cases
subsidize --

No, I don't need
the speech.

It went a little
beyond that with Eddie.

What do you mean?

Well, we were friends.

You know,
I'd hang out with him

after the case was over.

I'd suppress the evidence,
he'd throw a little party,

and I'd celebrate with him.

You know,
he was the client

and a good businessman
caters to the client.

I think I always
led him to believe

that I really liked him.

Did you?

Maybe I did.

I think when someone's
buttering your bread,

you want to like him.

Did he launder money
through this place?

Probably.

It was never said,
but, you know,

he'd give me
a $25,000 cash retainer

for a 2-day trial,

and I'd pay him back
the unused.

Yeah, it was probably
the equivalent of laundering.

I guess I was dirty, too,
Lindsay,

and that's why
he can't bear

me passing judgment
on him today.

Bobby, you were
in a legitimate business.

He wasn't. He sees all
that you've accomplished

and how he stayed
in the same place,

and he's angry.

No, he's angry because
when I needed his money,

I liked him.

And now that I don't,

I don't.

Well...

it's all about over,
anyway.

He'll get murder two
at best.

He's looking
at a life sentence.

Consider him
lost business.

I haven't lost yet.

Are you saying
we got no shot?

I'm saying
it's a long shot.

We can argue the elements,
but in my opinion,

the jury has already
made up its mind.

I paid you enough money --

Will you stop with the money?
You can't buy acquittals.

How about you, 'Genie?

Would you like me
to take your head off?

What, you think if
a lawyer attacks his client,

it buys him a mistrial
or something?

Would it?

Look Eddie, manslaughter is
our best bet --

I ain't taking
manslaughter!

You want murder two
or murder one?

'cause that's what
you're going to get.

You want a piece
of me, Eddie, huh?

You haven't
got your knife now,

and I weigh
more than a buck 40.

I wouldn't need my knife.
I could pay you to play dead.

All right.

Go in there
and argue the elements.

Just argue the elements.

It's absolutely impossible.

Are you sure, doctor?

For the victim
to continue strangling

with seven stab wounds?

The loss of blood alone
would have dropped him,

plus the knife
hit major arteries

in both the heart
and neck.

This was not
self-defense.

Objection.

Sustained. Just give us
the medicals, doctor.

Dr. Foster, were you able
to make a determination

as to the order
of the wounds?

Well, first,
the wounds on the hands

looked to be
defensive in nature,

as if he had
his palms up to block.

The idea that his hands
were on the defendant's neck

at the time
he received them --

also impossible.

Is he testifying
to the order here?

I'm about to, counsel.

Then please do so, doctor.

The hands came first,

the jugular vein in the neck
was then severed,

and while the victim
was clutching his neck,

he was then stabbed
in the arm, then the heart.

The wound to the atrium
in the heart was the fatal one.

Now, it's your medical opinion
that the victim's hands

were not
on the defendant's neck

at the time he received
the fatal wound to the heart?

That is
my medical opinion, yes.

Aah! ( gasping )

Stop that man!

BOBBY: Eddie, no!

Eddie!
JUDGE SWACKHEIM: Bailiff!

Stop that man!

Hey, hey!

Security, come in here!

Get that man
out of my court!

( screaming )

Cuff him!

You okay?

Yeah, and you? Helen?

Helen?

She's still breathing.
Get an ambulance!

( Eddie groaning )

Get an ambulance!

Just lie still,
Helen.
I'm okay.

Lie still.
I can get up.

Stay back, sir.
Let me through.

She's my girlfriend.
Let me through.

I'm not your girlfriend.
One date, Richard.

Helen.
Bobby, I'm okay!

You're going to the hospital
to get checked out.

I'm not his girlfriend.

Is she okay?

From what I gather.

What hospital?

Mass general.
I'm going.

Wait. She's being
released already.

It was just a concussion.

He just mugged her
in the courtroom?

That's what Bobby said.

Now what happens?

You got to be kidding.

Do I look like
I'm kidding?

There's no way this trial could
possibly go on after that.

You think I'm going
to reward this bastard

with a mistrial
after he jumps the D. A.?

That's exactly why
he did it. He knew he --

Whoa, whoa, whoa.

The jury is not going
to be impartial.

I will instruct the jury
to disregard

That's crazy.
the assault
on the D. A.

Disregard? We don't even
have a district attorney

to prosecute right now.

We'll get a new one.

Oh, you can't be serious.

Come on, come on.
Listen to me, both of you.

The commonwealth
has already spent $100,000

on this piece of dirt.

Now, I'm not about
to start all over again

and waste
the taxpayers' money,

especially when I think that
the motive for this attack

was to get a mistrial.

Any conviction will just
get thrown out on appeal.

Maybe it will,
maybe it won't,

but with a conviction,

the state will have something
to bargain with, won't they?

Maybe this thing
will plead out,

which it should have done
to begin with,

except that your coked-up,
murdering scumball's brain

was too scrambled to see
the wisdom of that.

so, you expect just
to continue on

like nothing happened?

I will give
an instruction --

No judge in his right mind
would let this continue.

Too bad. You got me.

I won't do it.
I want off.
Denied.

Helen Gamble
is a friend of mine,

and I won't continue
defending the man --

Yes, you will.

I'll throw it away.
Then I'll put you away.

Do it.
I will do it.

I'm not going to defend
the man who did this!

You will defend him, or I'll
put you in lockup right now!

What kind of judge
are you?

The best kind --
old, crazy, and fed up!

This trial goes on!

It's going forward?

I'll take over.

How can he not call a mistrial?
The guy attacked me.

It's Swackheim. Look,
just get me the file --

Helen.
I can do it, Richard.

It was a concussion.
I took an Advil.

Well, if you have
headaches --

I'm not going to let
that dirtbag scare me off.

Well, I'm sitting
second chair.

You're at least
getting backup.

Richard?

What was that
"she's my girlfriend" stuff?

Do we need to have
a conversation?

They wouldn't
let me through.

I just wanted
to get through.

But don't worry.

You certainly set
the record quite straight.

I'm sorry the idea's
so, offensive to you.

I hurt your feelings.

I asked for it.

( door slams )

If you think
you can't separate

what happened in this room
from the case we're trying,

just say so.
I'll take you off.

But if you continue on
as jurors,

you damn well better consider
the two events separate.

One's got nothing
to do with the other,

and if you let his attack
on the district attorney

color your deliberations
on the murder charge,

you're mentally deficient
thugs.

You get that?

You took an oath
to listen to the evidence

and to rule on it.

And if any of you
go back there

and consider anything

except the evidence
properly admitted

and I find out about it...

I'll hold you in contempt.

What do we have
on the medical examiner?

Here's what
we have so far.

He had a reputation
in Los Angeles

for being sloppy.

I found three prosecutors
who blame him

for losing convictions,

although they say he makes
for a very good witness,

which I guess
you already know.

Is that why he got fired --
for sloppiness?

Oh, no, no, no.
You are going to love this.

He was surprised one night
in his examining room

while he was
sexually gratifying himself.

Excuse me?

Alone with a dead body.

That's why he got fired?

Not the reason given,

but I'm told it was
an election year for the D. A.

And that was
the factor.
What else?

That's all so far.

He supposedly had
a brief affair

with another
medical examiner in L. A.,

but other than that,
he's clean.

Okay, Eugene, you take him
on the medicals.

I'll do the other.

Well, it sounds like we're
crossing the line a little.

Hey, it's murder.
It's also personal.

You and Swackheim --
it's personal.

He thinks he can
push us around. We'll see.

( lift bell rings )

You ready?

Ready as I'll get.

Nothing to lose
in there, Eugene.

Let's just go for it.

Nothing to lose.

Except the usual --
our reputations.

That judge has turned
this thing

into a free-for-all.

Let's just swing wild.

Like I said, I'm ready.

EUGENE: Dr. Foster,
I call your attention

to the homicide prosecution
of Lawrence Shields

two years ago
in Los Angeles.

You were the M.E. involved
in that prosecution?

Yes.

Mr. Shields was convicted
in large part

due to your testimony.
Yes.

And Mr. Shields' conviction
was subsequently overturned

because the cause of death
attested to by you

turned out to be incorrect.

Objection.
What's that got --

Offered to impeach. This doctor
has been wrong

many times before,
botching prosecutions --

Objection.
Sustained.

This man was fired
in Los Angeles

because he repeatedly
screwed up investigation.

BOTH: Objection.

I know they'd like
to keep it quiet, your honor,

BOTH: Objection.
But you should be
concerned.

Mr. Young, that's enough.

We will not be
going through other cases.

I'm sure you've made mistakes
before, as well.

None of mine
sent a man to jail.

Are you suggesting your client
did not stab the man, counsel?

I'm suggesting it didn't
happen like you said it did.

I'm suggesting all those
absolutes you threw out

may not be
quite so absolute.

Argumentative.
Sustained.

Doctor, you testified
the victim was stabbed

in the jugular vein,
did you not?

I did.

But in your initial report,
you said

the victim was stabbed
in the carotid artery.

This was never
officially listed.

I first thought the carotid,
but it was the jugular.

And if a person
were strangling somebody,

and he was stabbed
in the jugular,

it would be an absolute
medical impossibility

for him to keep squeezing.

Is that
your medical testimony?

It would be
extremely unlikely.

Doctor, I asked you
if it would be impossible.

I suppose it's not
an impossibility.

Well, those were
your words yesterday --

"absolute impossibility."

Did you overstate it?

The odds of somebody --

Did you overstate it?

I shouldn't have said,
"absolute impossibility."

You overstated it.

Yes.

so, to restate it,
it would be possible

for the victim
to be strangling,

to receive a wound
to the throat,

and yet be able
to continue strangling.

Not for very long.

Seconds.

Yes, seconds.

And, doctor, what about
the wounds on the hands?

Is it possible that they
were sustained by Mr. Wicks

sticking the knife
under the victim's hands,

trying to pry them
off his neck?

Again, likelihoods --

I'm not talking
likelihoods, doctor.

I'm talking possibilities.

Anything's possible,
counsel, but I don't --

How long did you examine
the hands?

I don't really remember.

Well, in the medical report,

you make no analysis
of the hand wounds.

Well, they weren't
the fatal wounds.

Ah, doctor, you look
at arterial spurt patterns

to help determine the order
of wounds, do you not?

That's correct.

Did you look at the spurt
patterns in this case?

Yes, I did. I looked
at pictures of the floors

and the wall,
as well as photos of --

Pictures? You didn't go
to the scene?

No, I did not.

Well, doesn't the M.E. go to
the scene of the crime?

Typically, yes.
On this case, I did not.

Well, why's that?

Well, this case wasn't
much of a mystery, counsel,

Mr. Wicks admitting
to stabbing the guy --

Doctor, you were fired
from your position

as medical examiner
in Los Angeles.

Objection.

Goes to this man's pattern
of sloppy investigative work.

HELEN: Move to strike.

Sustained. He's not the one
on trial here, Mr. Young.

This man's testimony,
and his testimony alone,

is the only evidence
to contradict

Mr. Wicks' eyewitness
account of what happened.

His testimony is based
on his examination,

and any evidence

of his ineffective,
sloppy work history

certainly speaks to that.

Objection!
Move to strike
the whole speech.

Sustained. Mr. Young,
knock it off.

Your honor, I'm just
getting started.

Oh, no, you're not.

You'll stick
to the relevant facts,

or I'll shut you down.

Someone should shut you down,
you fat piece of crap!

Why don't you come
running right up here

and attack me,
you scumball?

That's it. How can you
let this trial go on?

Why don't you and judge Judy
go off and mate?
...I'll throw you in jail.

...more inappropriate
I've had enough
of you, your client.

To be a judge
than you already are!

Get in my chambers!

You're a joke.

You're a miserable,
jaded joke

who doesn't care about
the integrity of that room.

And you do.

It is an outrage to let
this trial continue.

It's an outrage to let
defendants manufacture mistrials

when they don't like
the way things are going,

which is exactly
what we have here.

He mugged her
to stop the trial,

and he just called me --
what did he call me?

"A fat piece of crap."

Again, to get a mistrial.

Well, he does so
at his own peril,

and you should have
advised him accordingly.

The trial goes on.
He can call me fat.

He can assault
anybody he chooses,

but the trial goes on.

Then let it go on!

Let us cross-examine the M. E.
without you shutting us down.

Fine!

Fine.

Doctor, do you have
any psychological problems

that the court
should know about?

No, I do not.

Do you have any perversions
that compromise your work?

No.

I imagine you often
have to examine

murder victims that have
also been raped?

Certainly.

Check the victim for semen,
that sort of thing.

Of course.

Ever find
your own semen?

I asked you a question.

I heard the question,
counsel.

I'm offended by it.

One of the reasons
you were fired

from your job
in Los Angeles --

objection! The court has
already ruled --

can't the court fake it
and offer the illusion of
a fair trial?

I object to that.
so, do I.

This is the man who stands
to put my client away.

Do I get to
question him or not?

I'll give you
a short leash.

I don't want
a short leash, judge.

I demand the right
to question this witness.

A defendant in a criminal trial
has the right

to confront his accuser,
and I would like to exercise

my client's right
and confront this witness.

( sighs ) Go ahead.

Dr. Foster, one of the reasons
for your discharge --

an employee walked
into the examining room

to discover you gratifying
yourself over a corpse.

No, it did not happen.
That did not happen.

It didn't happen?
No.

Shall I remind you
that you're under oath?

I wasn't on
or over a corpse.

I was -- It happened
in the privacy of that room.

A corpse was
in the room, but I --

Was there some concern in
the district attorney's office

that you were being
sexually aroused by dead bodies?

No, that was a lie.
It was a lie!

I'm sorry, sir, but I have
to ask the question.

Have you ever had sex
with a cadaver?

No, I have not.

And if I were to proffer
witnesses who claimed

you had sex with cadavers,
they would be liars?

Yes, they would.

You are telling the truth.

Yes, I am, counsel. Is this what
it's come to?

Medical examiners
get crucified?

All right, doctor.

Where the hell are you?
JUDGE: Doctor!

You don't object
to questions

like that?
Where the hell are you?

Doctor, that's enough!

Have you anything else,
counsel?

Have you ever had
extramarital affairs?

Objection --
character evidence.

By taking the stand,
this man puts his reputation

for truthfulness in issue.

Have you ever lied
to your wife, sir?

All right, settle down.

I won't settle down.
That was obscene.

Dr. Foster.

What the hell
has this come to?

I was just sacrificed
up there.

It has nothing to do
with this case.

I'm a good M.E.
This is disgusting.

It's disgusting. Why would
anybody ever testify

if they can --
This is disgusting!

Unfortunately,
personal lives

are becoming
more and more fair game.

Then why would any witness
in his right mind

ever come forward
or do my job?

Well, if he chooses
to do your job,

he should certainly
think twice

about taming his shrew
with a corpse handy.

Oh, you think
that's funny?

It's not funny, but we might
need to explain.

It happened in the privacy
of my office.

Again, having
a cadaver nearby --

Shut up!

I say we don't rehabilitate.
There's no point.

Let's go to closings.

I don't think they really
shook you on anything relevant.

Oh, you don't think they shook
me, Ms. Gamble? I resign.

I don't ever want to be
a player in this system.
You can't resign now.

You can't resign now.

At least wait
till after the trial.

I was raped in there.
I was humiliated.

I was -- Hail, hail
to our great justice system.

Oh, great.

Well, we better work
on the closing.

JUDGE SWACKHEIM:
Miss Gamble.

You know, ever since
the O. J. Simpson trial,

I've had a hard time
defending this process

to non-lawyers.

The way I try
to explain it is that

that was just
an aberrant runaway proceeding

with renegade,
unscrupulous lawyers,

a judge who couldn't
control his room,

combined with total

and utter disregard
for integrity.

And I promised
my friends that

that is just not
the way it is.

But every once in a while
you get a case

that is every bit as disgusting
as the televised debacle

would have the public believe.

We certainly witnessed it
here, didn't we?

The defendant
physically attacked me,

the judge
went off his medication,

and the defense lawyers
were blatantly despicable.

Objection.
Objection.

Sustained.

One thing
the judge did right, however,

was to forcefully remind you
that this case

is only about evidence.

It has nothing to do

with whether a medical examiner
sexually gratified himself,

it has nothing to do

with cases that took place
in Los Angeles,

or whether somebody
cheated on his wife.

The defense would love
to have you focus on that,

but this case is about
who killed Philip Olson,

and we know who did.

The defendant admitted
he stabbed the man seven times.

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7.

He stabbed the man seven times
with a knife.

That is not in dispute,
ladies and gentlemen.

It's uncontested,

but since a conviction means
an automatic life sentence,

defendants often
roll the dice,

and why shouldn't they?
What do they have to lose?

Might as well
make something up.

There's no reward
for telling the truth.

The life sentence
is automatic.

In this case, the fabrication
is self-defense.

Self-defense.

He stabbed the man
seven times,

including once
in the heart

and once in the throat.

Self-defense.

No bruising
on the defendant's neck,

which an attempted strangulation
most certainly would have left.

He's threatened to kill
the victim before.

He's a convicted drug dealer
who has stabbed people before,

but, hey, self-defense.

Even they know how ridiculous
that theory sounds.

That's why Mr. Wicks decided
to go for a mistrial.

Mug the D. A., have the lawyers
jumping up and down,

turn the whole proceeding
into a giant circus,

and the judge might put a stop
to the whole thing.

At a minimum,
he guarantees himself

a new trial on appeal.

And, hey, if he happens
to be so lucky

as to get
that one gullible juror,

who knows?

And that's
today's judicial system,

ladies and gentlemen.

Words like "justice"
and "honor" and "respect" --

they don't apply.

Lawyers don't get hired today

because they're dignified
or well thought of.

It's winning and losing,
like every business.

It comes down
to winning and losing,

and I'm ashamed
to be a part of it.

I'm embarrassed
to be a practitioner

of what trial law
has become,

which is a joke.

Criminal trials
are a joke.

Maybe one day
I'll go on to teach,

and I'll say that.

Some student
will raise his hand

and ask me
to give an example.

I'll say, "Sure.

"Once I had a case
where the defendant

"stabbed an unarmed man
seven times,

"then walked into court
claiming self-defense.

It's all a joke."

It's a joke we've gone
this far, isn't it?

Like Ms. Gamble says,

seven times he stabbed him.

That tells the story.

It's a joke we've wasted
all your time,

the judge's time,

over $100,000
of the taxpayers' money.

That's a joke.
On the easy ones,

we should be able to skip
the carnival of a trial

and just send the guy
to prison.

He stabbed him seven times.

How simple can it be?

That's why
the medical examiner

didn't even go to the scene.

That's why
he didn't spend much time

examining the victim's hands.

How much more simple
can a case get?

Why the hell are we
even bothering with a trial?

Drug-dealing scum --
Why even bother?

Hey, look at me.
Am I disturbing you?

You got a problem
listening to this?

Tell the judge,
and he'll let you off.

Mr. Donnell,
do not address the jurors.

Don't address the jurors?
This is my closing argument.

Who should I be talking to,
the wall?

You know what I mean.

Maybe I should talk
to the wall.

Drug-dealing,
stabbing client --

maybe I'll have a better chance
of moving the wall.

This case is like pounding up
against a wall!

Mr. Donnell!

The reason we bother

to go through a trial

is because sometimes
things aren't as they seem.

Sometimes things
aren't so obvious.

The victim tried
to strangle him.

The prosecution doesn't
want to believe that,

you may not want
to believe that,

but you at least
have to ask yourself

if Eddie Wicks planned
to kill Philip Olson,

would he really invite him over
to his own house?

Would it happen in such a messy,
unplanned way?

The victim owed him
over $60,000,

which he was working
on paying back.

Now, most drug dealers
tend to like money

more than murdering people.

Why would he kill the guy
and say goodbye to the money?

Did the prosecution
address that?

Did they offer
any real motive here?

No. They just
count stab wounds --

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 --

and hope you skip over
the motive part.

Now, she talks
about winning and losing

and how disgusting
it's become.

You don't think
they've tried to win?

They've put up
a medical examiner

who listed off a series
of absolute

impossibilities to things
that were possible.

It was, in fact, possible

for a man to get stabbed
in the neck

and yet continue to strangle.

That is possible.

Dr. Foster testified that
it was impossible at first.

Was he mistaken?
Did he lie,

or did he just overstate it,
as he said?

He's up here looking for a win,
ladies and gentlemen.

You can count on that.

One function
of the medical examiner's job

is to be able to get on
this witness stand

and be a persuasive
prosecutorial witness

and help them
secure convictions,

help them win,

and that's what
he was doing.

Now, the district attorney says

she's ashamed to be
a part of it.

Right now there are over 100
people sitting on death row

for crimes they didn't commit,

and if Eddie Wicks were
convicted in California,

the state that fired Dr. Foster
for being too sloppy,

he would also be on death row.

And how many times
have we seen

after the man sitting
on death row is cleared,

after the guy sitting 30 years
in prison is cleared

on newly discovered
DNA evidence,

or after the wrong man
is executed,

how many times have we seen
the D. A. Say,

"I'm ashamed to be a part
of the process"?

They just say mistakes happen.

Well, that's right,
mistakes happen,

and even when it seems
so obvious, mistakes happen,

and nobody -- not her,
not him, not you --

nobody can be sure
that a big mistake

isn't happening right here
right now.

It could have gone down
exactly the way

my client said it did.

The medical examiner knows it.

You heard him admit on cross
under oath "possible" --

possible it happened
just like Mr. Wicks said,

possible the prosecution
is wrong.

And I am not ashamed
to stand before you

and say you cannot
send a man to prison

for the rest of his life

when there's a chance
the prosecution is wrong.

This is why we have trials,
ladies and gentlemen.

This is why we bother,

and I am not ashamed
to be a part of it.

I am proud
to be a defense attorney.

I am proud to be the one
jumping up and down,

even on cases where everything
seems so obvious.

I am proud to be the one

making the state
prove its burden

beyond all reasonable doubt

before taking
a man's life away forever,

and I do not think
it's a joke.

Now, you have two choices.

You can go back there
and say,

"drug-dealing scum --
let's lock him up anyway,"

or you can admit
there was doubt,

admit the state
put on nothing

to contradict
Eddie Wicks' testimony

and do the job
you were sworn to do

when you signed on as jurors.

But if you choose
to ignore that obligation,

if you choose to say
forget reasonable doubt,

forget the state's burden
of proof

and convict him anyway...

well, then Ms. Gamble's right,
after all.

The system is, in fact...

a joke.

He was good.

All he needed to do

was persuade
one lone imbecile,

and he's got --

he's not going
to persuade.

Helen,
you said it yourself --

one idiot
beats a conviction.

He just delivered
a damn good closing argument.

So, maybe they'll beat
murder one.

Even with murder two,
they've got an appeal.

Ay, but Swackheim's right.

With a murder two conviction
in the bank,

they'll have to plead out
on manslaughter.

You believe that?

Guy stabs somebody
seven times,

we're sitting here looking
at manslaughter as a victory.

You phoned it in.

Thanks.

Something I said?

It's not that I believe
in you, Eddie.

It's more like...

I need to believe in me.

That and you're not
positive I'm guilty.

And there's that.

( door opens )

Bobby,
the judge wants to see you.

As soon as we get
our verdict,

you will be proceeding
directly to jail,

whether your client does
or not.

Why?

Because I'm holding you
in contempt.

The only reason
I didn't do it earlier

is because I didn't want
to prejudice the case,

but the disrespect
you have shown me

in this trial will not
go unpunished, counselor.

Look, I know you're out
of your mind --

Bobby.
Keep talking.

You say you don't want
to prejudice the case --

you call my client scum
in open court.

The fact that you even let
this thing continue --

any disrespect
I showed to you

was well earned,
trust me.

Listen, you little --

You should at least
have the integrity

To hold yourself
in contempt.

You were a blight
on that room.

You should have your robe
stripped away,

and when this case is over,

in addition to all
of my appeals on record,

I will be bringing a motion
to have you removed

because judges like you
are a cancer.
And I hope you win!

Yes, I would rather
sit by a beach

instead of listening
to lawyers like you...
You're a dead rot!

And if this system has
any chance of ever working,

with your gross,
vile clients
it has to weed itself

who violate me...
of people who have
no business being judges,

and you would be
at the top of the list!

That the stench
it's become --
You are disgraceful!

You are the stench!
You bring the stink!

You are an arrogant redneck
son of a bitch!

Well, you can bring it
right into the cell with you!

This is all your fault!
All of it!

( door opens )

Jury's back.

The defendant
will please rise.

Mr. Foreman, the jury
has reached its verdict?

We have.

What say you?

"326447 -- Commonwealth
vs Edward Wicks.

"on the count of murder
in the first degree,

"we find the defendant,
Edward Wicks, not guilty.

"326448 -- on the count
of murder in the second degree,

we find the defendant,
Edward Wicks, not guilty."

What?

Members of the jury,
this completes your service.

You call that service?

What are you, morons?
Ms. Gamble! Ms. Gamble!

What, do you like the color
of Mr. Donnell's tie?

Ms. Gamble!
I don't care, judge!
That's it!

That's it.
This is what happens

when you get 12 people

too stupid to get out
of jury duty.

You end up with a bunch
of unemployed,

brain-dead idiots!

Tell me,
what would it take here?

Did he have to stab the guy
eight times?

One more word!
Come on, raise your hands!

Which one of you retards
voted not guilty?

All right, Helen.
That's it.
You're in contempt.

Throw them in contempt!

Why don't you
invite the defendant over

for Christmas dinner, huh?

Let him carve the turkey,
you idiots!

Get her out!
Take her away!

Not guilty by reason
of jury's insanity!

You morons!

Bailiff, take
Mr. Donnell away, too.

He knows why.

What did you do?

It's a long story.

so, that leaves you and me
to celebrate, right?

Maybe next time.

Well, at least he let us
share the same cell.

Yep. Won't Lindsay
be thrilled,

you and I sharing
a room again?

Funny.

Okay, tell me.
I can take it.

Did I make a mistake
in the trial?

Should I have done
something differently?

What, did I appear
unsympathetic,

returning
with a concussion?

I don't know.

The medical examiner
didn't help you much.

Maybe I could have
handled things better.

It doesn't work. That's why
I'm like I am in there.

The process doesn't work.
I get frustrated.

Well, maybe it could work
if you do things right.

Works worse
when I do things right.

Why don't you
get off the bench?

It's a thought.

French fries?

Two more hours,
you can go.

You stinker!