Roy Payne was a defense attorney with antisemitic views and a possible connection to the Ku Klux Klan.
History[]
Payne is referred to by ADA McCoy as a Klan lawyer, though Payne claims to have only written a few briefs for a Klan march.
After Matt Hastings' arrest for the murder of a Jewish teacher, Payne was brought in as lead defense counsel. He submitted the defense that there was a Jewish conspiracy to frame Hastings for murder, led by Detective Briscoe. While interrogating suspects on the stand, Payne made it clear that he held very strong antisemitic views and was trying to inflame the jury against Jews. Through Payne's efforts, Hastings is able to get a mistrial due to a hung jury, with a single dissenting vote for conviction.
After the mistrial, McCoy tells DA Schiff that Hastings' other lawyer is willing to discuss a plea deal rather than have a retrial. Having gotten his headlines, Payne was no longer made available for a new trial, as he was now touring the Klan lecture circuit. (L&O: "Blood Libel")