Jack McCoy quotes from Law & Order

Carmichael

There's no church here! Rose Hallacy was a loose cannon!

McCoy

Who didn't take a dime from Margot Gracen or anybody else, ministered to these people out of the goodness of her heart, gave up worldly things to do the work of God.

Carmichael

Spoken like a parochial schoolboy.

McCoy

6 years at St. Ignatius.

Carmichael

Did they teach you how to do exorcisms, Jack?

McCoy

They taught us to have a healthy respect for the devil.

Carmichael

The only devil in this case is the woman we're trying for murder.

McCoy

It may be time to make the best deal we can with all of them. 2 years probation, a fine.

Carmichael

Oh, a fine! Ouch! Those poor doctors might have to hock one of their Porsche's.

McCoy

Abby, there isn't much of a case left.

Carmichael

But there's still a victim! Jack, she went in a healthy woman, she came out a corpse!

McCoy

Between the 2 of us, depraved indifference is a reach. Criminally negligent homicide is a gift! I wouldn't squander it.

Carmichael

You make excuses, I'll make the case.

Carmichael

Did Pelham ever complain to internal affairs about her? That she assaulted him or was stalking him?

We don't have anything on file like that. We got reports she spends a lot of time in the gym with her fellow female officers.

McCoy

Your point?

Maybe she's got a problem with men.

Carmichael

Thank you for dropping by, lieutenant. Careful you don't get carpet burns on your knuckles.

Carmichael

After six years, I still don't know what cops are about.

McCoy

I grew up with one. I don't know, either.

Carmichael

Well, they're real good at circling the wagons to protect themselves from the likes of us.

McCoy

And who protects them from each other?

McCoy

Andrew Hampton accepted our offer. Attempted Man 1, 6-12 years in jail.

Carmichael

Well hopefully his sister will be joining him.

McCoy

You don't think he can convince a jury Nicole put him up to it?

Carmichael

I think she'll toss her hair back a few times and convince them she didn't.

McCoy

Really cynical, Abby.

McCoy

Any indication it's Clemente?

Carmichael

The cops asked him for a DNA sample, he refused.

McCoy

Did he have a reason?

Carmichael

Outrage. He says the suspicion of him is racist.

Schiff

Only Hispanic professor on a white campus. Could be he's right.

Carmichael

Could be he did it.

McCoy

Let's make sure we're not trashing this man's reputation just because he's uncooperative.

Carmichael

But let's not let it go just because he's screaming racism!

Carmichael

Peter Kelly's been expelled.

McCoy

What does he care? Probably go into the family business.

Carmichael

As long as it doesn't require a conscience.

Carmichael

Malenkov's gotta be making a quarter of a million a month by massaging sore muscles.

McCoy

Ain't America grand?

Carmichael

You've gotta hand it to him, though. He's been here 6 years, he's working the system like a slot machine. I'm still trying to figure out alternate side of the street parking.

You think because we have an accent, we're stupid? When I was 14, at a state school in Moscow, I was reading Anderson, Faulkner, Hemingway. I was studying John Keynes, Milton Friedman...

McCoy

[impatiently] Mr. Maletkov, I...!

Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah. I made a lot of money in Russia. You think that's easy? You try it. So, when I come here... [scoffs; snaps fingers] America's like a big baby. We're taking candy out of your hand. Out of your mouth. So... [speaks Russian] Save your deals for the pipe heads in Harlem. I have appointment to play chess. Okay?

McCoy

I wanna know how this disaster happened.

Briscoe

Best guess, Ricci was followed from work.

McCoy

Why wasn't a police officer stationed in the apartment?!

Lt. Van Buren

In a one-bedroom? That would've been cozy. We tried putting someone downstairs in the vestibule, but the tenants complained!

McCoy

Lieutenant, I don't have to tell you...!

Lt. Van Buren

No. You don't. We're treating this like Ricci was one of our own. What are you gonna do about this retrial?

McCoy

I don't know.

Defense attorney

You're taking the death penalty off the table with the city screaming for blood?

McCoy

The victims families need closure, not blood.

Defense attorney

My client's a healthy young man. Life without parole, that could be 50 or 60 years.

Carmichael

He could always take up smoking.

McCoy

Rolff makes a product that any clever 12-year-old can turn into a weapon of mass destruction.

Schiff

I'm appalled. Write them a letter.

Carmichael

Jack wants the jury to make a finding of emotion, not of fact. This isn't a trial. It's gun control by other means.

McCoy

They can sell guns on the internet. Talking about control is a joke.

Carmichael

So this is your answer? Putting gun makers in jail?

McCoy

I'd like to start by putting Rolff Firearms out of business!

Carmichael

Responsible adults can own firearms without the entire country sinking into criminal anarchy.

McCoy

What's the point? Maybe when the redcoats were coming over Bunker Hill.

Carmichael

How about somebody 6'5" coming through my door? The people have a right to defend themselves!

Madam Foreperson, as to each of the 15 counts of the indictment: Murder in the second degree, has the jury reached a unanimous verdict?

Yes, we have, your honor. We find the defendant guilty.

Order! Order! Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, I thank you for your service. You are excused. [to the stenographer] Don't pack it up just yet, Linda. I'm finding, as a matter of law, the People failed to meet the standard of proof I set at the beginning of trial. The People did not establish that the weapon was hazardous per se, nor that the main actor in the homicide used the weapon as it was intended to be used by Mr. Weber. Therefore, I'm setting aside the jury verdict and issuing a directed verdict of not guilty. The defendant is free to go. [bangs gavel]

McCoy

Objection!

[bangs gavel again] Order! Order!

McCoy

[approaches the bench] I'm filing notice of the People's intent to appeal! This is outside the scope of your authority!

Mr. McCoy, I'm not gonna sanction a verdict that can't possibly be sustained on appeal. This conviction isn't based on any proven facts. It's based on the jury's outrage at Mr. Weber's irresponsible and inexcusable conduct. You wanna end the violence, the bloodletting. So do I, Mr. McCoy. In my 30 years on the bench, I've seen every permutation of it, and it sickens me when somebody profits from it! But tempted, though I may be, putting Mr. Weber in jail won't end the carnage. Until we cure what ails the human heart, it won't make a dent in the body count. In the meantime, no matter how profound our grief, our indignation, I can't let you use this court to raise a lynch mob. I won't allow you to exploit the same base actions Mr. Weber counts on to beef up his bottom line! It's not about being right, Mr. McCoy. It's about doing right. Now, we're adjourned.

Jenny's been emotionally abused, maybe physically. She lashes out when her anger reaches the boiling point.

Carmichael

So we lock this girl up?

Get used to it. There are more and more girls committing violent crimes. I don't see anything from Jenny except a future of escalating antisocial behavior.

McCoy

What makes you say that?

Emotional abuse. The snuffed cat. Blacked out photographs. Her lack of response when I went after her.

McCoy

Fantasies about hurting little boys.

Previews of coming attractions. She's graduated to murder, she's not going to stop.

Carmichael

You sound pretty sure.

The kid's a done deal. She's a textbook serial killer. You just got her early.