Law & Order quotes

Carmichael

They tried the victim.

McCoy

And made a badge a license to kill.

We offer no opinion on the sincerity of Mr. Becker's beliefs, or on who's entitled to try him where and for what. This is not up to us. All we can determine is whether the standard for conversion has been met. Without proof of a mikveh, we have to say it has not. Also, we see no evidence that, to this point, Eli Becker has been living what we could call a Jewish life style. Accordingly, Eli Becker is ruled not Jewish.

Rabbis? Rabbis, can I be heard?

Our ruling will be put into writing and made available to both sides by the end of the day.

I had half my family die in the ovens! Who the hell are you to tell me that my son is not Jewish?!

Sorry, Mr. Becker. This is not up to us.

A stinking technicality! And these momzers'll hang him for it!

The Talmud has no technicalities, Mr. Becker. Only laws.

Drop dead!

If the case depends on the jury believing a career criminal who's cut a deal, I'd say we're in trouble.

McCoy

We have a defendant who left the country rather than stand trial.

Which the defense will attribute to a combination of panic and religious fervor.

Carmichael

We could also establish that he was stealing from the business.

A business his father half-owned.

McCoy

Are you suggesting that we offer him a deal?

After what we went through to get him back here? Not on your life!

Don't beat yourself up too badly over this one, Jack.

McCoy

A guy shoots a New York City police officer in the line of duty and I can't convict him.

Enough of the jury identified with his fear of cops.

McCoy

Used to be a fear of cops didn't justify shooting them.

Used to be a lot of things.

I'd rather be in uniform. Too much politics in being a detective. I don't know how you guys do it.

Briscoe

We're different. We're in it for the money.

Did you think I was going to eat my gun?

Briscoe

Now why would you do a thing like that?

I disgraced myself. Dishonored the job.

Briscoe

You made a mistake.

I let him go. He killed a young girl, and I let him go.

Briscoe

So now he's caught.

Can you forgive me, Lennie?

Briscoe

All day long, Tommy, all day long.

Green

Guy stuck his car in a garage, thought he was safe.

Briscoe

He forgot the high cost of parking in Manhattan.

McCoy

The law says your right to rage ends at the other guy's nose.

I don't see a warrant.

Green

It'll be here in a minute.

It's my understanding that "in a minute" and "right now" are two entirely different things.

Mr. Morriston, this courtroom is not a singles' bar. You will conduct yourself with the proper decorum.

[looking to Maxine] She told me about this guy, John Brown, who led a raid on Harper's Ferry to steal guns to free slaves. Ever hear of him?

McCoy

Apples and oranges.

Pretty brave guy, wasn't he?

McCoy

[admittedly] Yeah, he was.

What would he do?

You've got to make this decision for yourself.

[pause] Thank you for your offer, Mr. McCoy. I want to go to trial.

McCoy

Man's dominion over the animals remains intact.

Carmichael

The jury decided to follow the law.

And a hero is born.

Briscoe

That's the trouble with lying, Kiki: you have to tell the same lies to the same people.

You got yourself the right kind of defendant. He's Brazilian, but he looks like he could be Puerto Rican. I mean, Brazil's still in Latin America, right? As long as he's Latino, you've got the right color of head on your stick.

McCoy

I don't care what color of head's on my stick. All I care about is, did he do the crime?

Yeah, right.

What should be the standard to take the life of a teenager?

Carmichael

Where I come from, it's where the crime committed is so vicious, so cruel, he forfeits the right to get any older.

Where I come from a person can't forfeit that right. We can only take it from him.