Gillian Hardwicke is the eighth Assistant District Attorney assigned to the Special Victims Unit.
History[]
Hardwicke replaced Mikka Von following the successive departures of Sherri West, Jo Marlowe, and Alexandra Cabot. She is a Brooklyn A.D.A. who transfers to Manhattan SVU due to her great admiration for detectives Benson and Stabler.
In her debut, Hardwicke is said to have a 92% conviction rate and is set to keep it (or increase it) by any means. Though throughout the episode, despite the victim-turned-assailant revealing a twist in her crimes, Hardwicke is determined to prosecute her. This earns ire from Benson who tries to say that her rapists shouldn't see justice. However, Hardwicke reveals to Benson she has evidence to give to the defense that helps prove the victim's account and gets one of her rapists to confess, having him and another arrested for perjury because the statute of limitations had expired. She was seen smiling at getting true justice. Her actions help catch the main one for two other rapes that the statute of limitations has not run out. Hardwicke also helped the victim reunite with her daughter. (SVU: "Branded")
Hardwicke and Benson try to convince Agent Dana Lewis to go on trial to prosecute her rapist. (SVU: "Penetration")
During a case, where a husband is killed but is revealed to have abused both his wife and stepson. Hardwicke and the detectives investigate but find how complex the case is when both claim responsibility and their fingerprints were on the murder weapon. Not being able to get clear evidence, Hardwicke has Detective Stabler let both parties go because they clearly won't betray the other, something confirmed when she directly asks for a confession. (SVU: "Pop")
Hardwicke attempts to help convict Orville Underwood, who filmed a series of child pornography films, without much success. One of his victims, Larissa Welsh, subsequently kills him after discovering Underwood is still raping children. Since Larissa killed him while rescuing a young girl, Hardwicke assures Larissa that she will not be charged. (SVU: "Possessed")
Her departure from the Special Victims Unit was never explained but she was likely transferred.