| "The Long Arm Of The Witness" | ||
|---|---|---|
| ← | SVU, Episode 22.06 | → |
| Production number: 22006 First aired (US): 21 January 2021 First aired (UK): 9 July 2021 First aired (CAN): 20 January 2021 First aired (AUS): 18 March 2021 | ||
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| Teleplay By Denis Hamill & Warren Leight Story By Denis Hamill & Micharne Cloughley Directed By Martha Mitchell | ||
Summary[]
Carisi takes on a powerful judge when he inexplicably dismisses the rape case of a university student.
Plot[]
At the DA's office, Carisi and Benson offer Gallagher a deal of one year's house arrest if he pleads guilty. However, he refuses to give up his career with Calhoun stating they will see them in court. On his way out, Gallagher insults Carisi on not really be cut out for his position and says his career is over, mockingly stating that maybe the NYPD will take him back. Unfazed, Carisi tells him to keep going but loses his composure when the judge hurls racist slurs at him, nearly leading to a fight but Benson broke it up and says save it for court. Gallagher is satisfied and takes his leave.
In the restroom, Holmes is deep in thought over the case before he is alarmed by Gallagher entering. The corrupt judge confronts Holmes about his testimony and threatens to ruin his career while hurling several slurs at him. In the chambers, Gallagher's words are on a recorder and Holmes reveals that he had believed Gallagher was going to attack him, so he secretly recorded the latter speaking as evidence. This leaves the surprised Gallagher with no choice but to make a deal and effectively end his career.
In front of Judge Lewis, Gallagher pleads to sexual misconduct while acknowledging his past transgressions as horrible and admitting his fault. After he's done, Judge Lewis asks Carisi if he is satisfied with the outcome as he says his office is. However, Lewis voices how she is not, surprising everyone. Lewis states Gallagher comes from a good home and fine family yet upon achieving power, he abused habitually. She then overrules the deal while admonishing Gallagher in open court about his actions on his victims, she changes Charles' deal of one year of house arrest to one year of incarceration in prison instead. This leaves the jury and Gallagher in complete shock, as he tries to bring up how they had a deal, but Lewis tells him he should be familiar with how the bench has inherent powers. She then orders the court guards to take Gallagher away while the jury applaud her for really ensuring true justice.
Cast[]
Main cast[]
- Mariska Hargitay as Captain Olivia Benson
- Kelli Giddish as Detective Amanda Rollins
- Ice-T as Sergeant Odafin Tutuola
- Peter Scanavino as A.D.A. Dominick Carisi, Jr.
- Jamie Gray Hyder as Officer Katriona Tamin
- Demore Barnes as Deputy Chief Christian Garland
Recurring cast[]
- Elizabeth Marvel as Attorney Rita Calhoun
- Wentworth Miller as A.D.A. Isaiah Holmes
- Narci Regina as Maya Bell
- TJ Lee as Celia Long
Guest cast[]
- Josh Stamberg as Judge Charles Gallagher
- Michelle Peters as Francine Giamba
- Adriane Lenox as Judge Annette Lewis
- Evander Duck, Jr. as Captain Al Norton
- Elia Monte-Brown as Carmen Benitez
- Toni Belafonte as President Michelle DuBois
- Graham Rowat as A.D.A. Ezra Blank
- Rosie Berrido as Gladys Palma
- Dylan James as Ian Hunter
- Maeve Yore as April Kelly
- Elena Urdaneta as Valentina Palma
- Amanda Morrow as Alicia Norton
- Joe Discher as Court Officer
References[]
- Tompkins Square University
- Hudson University
- Suffolk County, New York
- Tommy Burns
- Tau Omega Fraternity
- Buzzfeed
- Charles Patton
- People v. Molineux
Quotes[]
- Judge Charles Gallagher: [to Carisi] Something they can't teach you at Fordham? How to belong. The people on the 8th floor who nod at you on the elevator? They can smell the flop sweat and garlic coming off your cheap suit.
- Carisi: Keep going judge.
- Judge Gallagher: Yeah, what do you want to hear you dumb Dago? You wanna go?
- Carisi: Fine I'll take you on right here.
- Benson: [restraining Carisi] Okay that's enough, that's enough! Save it for court.
- Carisi: Or we can go right now! Either way is fine for me.
- Judge Gallagher: [laughing] No need. You're so far over your head you don't even know your career is dead and buried.
Background Information and Notes[]
- The episode title is derived from the phrase "the long arm of the law".
- Rita Calhoun returns after a long absence, her previous appearance being in the eighteenth season.
- ADA Isaiah Holmes is promoted to Head of the Civil Rights Unit as of this episode.
- Rollins mentions to Maya Bell why she left her hometown and her history with Charles Patton, which was also explained in the episode "Forgiving Rollins".
- Goof: Rollins states that the maximum sentence for Forcible Touching is four years in prison, which is incorrect. In the state of New York Forcible Touching is a class A misdemeanor, the maximum sentence is one year in jail. Even if someone is convicted of multiple counts, absent any felony charges, the judge would almost certainly order the defendant to serve the sentences concurrently, which would still be one year.
Episode scene cards[]
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Office of |
Office of |
Office of |
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Law Offices of |
Supreme Court |
Supreme Court |
| Previous episode: "Turn Me On Take Me Private" |
"The Long Arm Of The Witness" Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 22 |
Next episode: "Hunt, Trap, Rape, and Release" |