Jack McCoy quotes from Law & Order

McCoy

[about Kincaid's death] You know, a few weeks before it happened, she told me she wanted to quit. I persuaded her to stay.

Briscoe

Yeah, well ... I could have walked past that bar.

McCoy

With all due respect, your honor, when you change the rules of the game in the middle of a trial...

You're done, Mr. McCoy!

McCoy

...there ought to be at least the appearance of impartiality!

Officer, place Mr. McCoy under arrest for contempt of this court!

McCoy

I move for an adjournment so that the People may appeal your honor's ruling!

Denied! Cuff him!

Schiff

Nice.

McCoy

Adam. [to his cellmates] Mr. Barton, Mr. Jasperson, Mr. Montoya-- Mr. Schiff.

Schiff

We're in a good mood, aren't we?

McCoy

All except Mr. Jasperson. He was just convicted of murder.

Yeah, and it was bull. I'm gonna be gettin' outta here soon.

Schiff

Young man, sit down.

McCoy

We already got the father.

Ross

But she's guilty too.

McCoy

We put her in jail, her son dies alone.

Ross

Everybody's got a sad story.

McCoy

It won't be an easy case to make. Webber's dead. Her father won't talk.

Ross

We can look for other evidence.

McCoy

You feel burned?

Ross

You feel sorry for her?

McCoy

Call me a sentimental fool. [pause] There's no statute of limitations on murder. We'll keep it. Right on top of the pile.

McCoy

Either you lied on the stand, Mr Bergeen, or you lied to the police. There's about five felonies we can charge you with. Do you really want to go to jail? Tell us the truth!

The truth is, I love my daughters. Both of them!

McCoy

We'll see how much they love you.

My people need unity far more than truth.

McCoy

What they need is justice.

What that is depends on which end of the bullwhip you're on.

Well thanks, Jack. You just conceded there was no affair - I hope the jury was listening!

McCoy

I hope your client's wife was listening; were you, Mrs. Shepard?

Hey, she doesn't have to talk to you...

McCoy

She can if she wants to!

Ross

I don't know what to do, Jack. [McCoy smirks] What?

McCoy

I'm enjoying the moment, fleeting as it is.

McCoy

Sometimes you have to make deals with the Devil.

Ross

Just as long as you don't get your eyebrows singed.

Schiff

[referring to the victim and his wife] He was 74; she was 22?

McCoy

Why, Adam? You want to know if she has a sister?

Ross

Lanie Stieglitz filed her appeal.

Schiff

She's hoping they'll erect a statue for her on 12th Avenue.

McCoy

Even prostitutes deserve a patron saint.

Ross

It makes me wonder if they convicted her because we made our case or because she's a prostitute.

McCoy

They convicted her. I don't care why.

Ross

I shouldn't have been away from Katie this long. I'm due in family court in three days.

McCoy

We have to go back to Judge Callahan in twelve hours.

Ross

I'm sorry!

McCoy

Where are your priorities?! If Gorton gets ahold of this stuff, he'll come up with some cockamamie alternate theory of the crime. A murderer could walk free!

Ross

And I could lose my daughter! You know what, Jack?! That's an easy decision!

McCoy

Not for an Assistant District Attorney.

McCoy

What's your current movie about, Mr. Newman? Talking bears?

Yes.

McCoy

A daring Neorealist foray into Jellystone Park? Does that fulfill your promise as an artist?

No!

McCoy

Heidi Ellison was keeping you from fulfilling that promise, wasn't she?

Not just her. Do you know what kinda crap they wanted me to make?

McCoy

But especially her. She could've let you make Madame Bovary, couldn't she?

Yes!

McCoy

But she didn't, did she?

She gave me a choice. The bears or a picture about a dog who's granted three wishes. I couldn't believe it!

McCoy

You couldn't believe what, Mr. Newman?

I had an actress, a bankable actress, who was attached to Bovary. But Heidi gives her $12,000,000 to do an asteroid movie instead, because our marriage didn't work out! [jumps out of his seat and raises his sword] That vindictive bitch! I could've made something!

Schiff

You got what you wanted. Take the rest of the week off.

McCoy

It's Friday, Adam.

Schiff

So it is. See you Monday.

Curtis

So he walks for killing a cop, but we nail him for killing the cop killer?

McCoy

An irony he gets to reflect upon over the next forty years in Attica.