Jack McCoy quotes from Law & Order

McCoy

I'm no politician, Arthur.

Yeah, everybody says that.

Cutter

My summation's ready. I can win this.

McCoy

Famous last words. I've even said them myself from time to time.

[after the verdicts are delivered] I understand the jury has a statement they'd like to read.

Yes, Your Honor. We, the jury, think this terrible event never would have occurred without both defendants causing it. And we recommend they should get the exact same sentence.

McCoy

[to Van Buren, sotto voce] Justice.

Lt. Van Buren

Who would have thought it?

McCoy

Victor said something about more of the tape. But there was no more on the tape. Did you stop recording?

Primary's on Tuesday. Don't forget to vote.

[after being accused of sabotaging the case for political reasons] So there it is. Some of us were wondering how long it'd take the real Jack McCoy to rear his shaggy, hippie liberal head. You know, when Arthur left, the Attorney General told me he wanted me sitting in that chair.

McCoy

And the mayor wanted somebody else. But I was the guy next in line for the job. This way, everybody's hands are clean and I don't have to grind anybody's axe.

Except your own.

McCoy

Josh, I think you've said enough.

It's too much power for you, Jack. You can't be trusted.

McCoy

If you really believe that you shouldn't be working for me. You can resign or I can fire you. Either way, clean out your desk tonight. You're done here.

Cutter

Now that we can establish Yost's motive, the defense is likely to do something unconventional.

McCoy

Such as?

Cutter

Putting lethal injection on trial. An appeal to the jury's political beliefs.

McCoy

It shouldn't be a problem.

Cutter

[sarcastically] Because Lord knows something like that never works!

McCoy

Jurors are people. Lawyers are people. They have reactions. We could put you in a burqa.

Connie

Jack...

McCoy

Or have robots try cases. Until then, we use what we have.

That hurt, Jack.

McCoy

I warned you.

You betrayed a confidence.

McCoy

You went to bat for a woman who shot her husband in cold blood, and who would have killed anybody else she found in his office. If I had to betray a confidence to ensure that she goes to jail, so be it. These are the rules we live by.

This isn't your finest hour, Jack.

McCoy

Nor yours.

McCoy

A training camp for religious fanatics.

Cutter

One that isn't in the Middle East.

Gov. Shalvoy

What the hell are you doing?!

McCoy

Helping to convict a murderer. You have maybe ten days before this goes public. Now go home to your family...

Gov. Shalvoy

My family's none of your business. My personal life is not anybody's business. You worry, Jack. You worry how you're going to get elected without me. It's thanks to me you have this job in the first place. Nobody wanted you.

McCoy

I'd rather be an unemployed lawyer than a well-fed pet.

Gov. Shalvoy

You're a fool. I had high hopes for you.

McCoy

I had high hopes for you! How could you do this, to the people who work for you, the people who elected you? How could you be so reckless with their trust? I respected you, Donald. Respected you.

Cutter

Crossing the line was one thing when Adam Schiff had your back. Now, you're out there all by yourself.

McCoy

It doesn't bother me.

Cutter

No. It just makes you more stubborn.

McCoy

Can anybody around here read?

Cutter

I believe that is a requirement to graduate from law school.

McCoy

I read the transcript. Very eloquent, the way you kept Susan Grayson just this side of perjury.

Cutter

That was the easy part. The hard part was finding a Kappa Delta Alpha who married a bug instead of squashing it.

Cutter

So a killer sits in there eating caviar while we do... nothing?

We're trying to negotiate the Iranians out of building nuclear weapons. We don't need to be distracted by a common criminal.

Lt. Van Buren

Common murderer. Darvey left his suitcase in the cab with a gun inside. Ballistics are a near-perfect match.

I'm sorry. We have to respect the treaty.

McCoy

And if we don't, what are they going to do? Invade our embassy in Iran and take 50 hostages? Oh, wait - they already did that.

My lawyer says that anything I say under oath can be used against me by any of the 10,000 plaintiffs who will file lawsuits against me, and I won't open myself up to that kind of liability. [starts to leave]

McCoy

Sit down, Mr. Gardner. If you refuse to testify, you'll be held in contempt, and you won't get out of it by writing a check.

Put me on the stand. I'll take the Fifth.

McCoy

Take the Fifth, and I'll give you something other than a few lawsuits to worry about. I have a whole building full of broke prosecutors who'd love nothing more than to put you in their sights.

What do I get out of it?

McCoy

Have you ever done something for nothing? Here's your chance.