Bobby Donnell quotes from The Practice

Bobby

You think it's tough defending the guilty, Lindsay? Try the innocent... it's terrifying.

Bobby

If I don't give the closing of my life tomorrow, a 17-year old girl loses hers.

Bobby

[addressing the judge] My only defense here is legal. I'm a criminal defense attorney. I represent bad people. The adversary system is premised on the defense attorney doing whatever he can to get the guy off. It's drummed into us, we are bound by the limits of the law, but only the law. Morality. Right or wrong. Justice. If a criminal lawyer starts asking himself "What's the just result here" "How should we get to there", he's lost. It's not a noble excuse. But a legal one.

Bobby

Lindsay, I agree at some point maybe we should tell her. But could you please allow me to put a little distance between me and these multiple murder charges before we do that?

Rebecca

Bobby, your hookers are here.

Bobby

[annoyed] Clients, Rebecca.

Rebecca

Yeah... your clients. They're here.

Bobby

Your honor. I now will be asking you to recuse yourself given my client's attack on your safety.

I am not recusing myself, counsel. I'm sure your client is very distraught and I promise to be understanding. I'll consider myself misunderstood.

Bobby

Still, if we can get that judge off this case.

Lindsay

What are you thinking?

Bobby

I'm thinking that if that judge slept with a woman in Pearson's firm, that is a card. And it's not beneath me to play it.

Bobby

Waive reading, your honor. Plead not guilty.

Bail?

Bobby

Your honor, Dr. Braun cannot be considered a flight risk, Judge. He's a health risk, goes about shooting people in the head.

Bobby

I can't do it.

Eugene

What do you mean "you can't do it"? We do it everyday. The client is always guilty. We always do it. What do you mean "you can't do it"?

For you. Take a polygraph for you.

Bobby

I'm a better lawyer when I believe in my client. So it's in your interest. If what you tell me now, is the truth.

Eugene

The first thing they teach you in law school is never, ever fall in love with a client.

Bobby

They don't teach you that.

Eugene

Well they should!

Bobby

Am I to understand that instead of accepting two hundred thousand, you settled on one forty, plus hospital care?

Jimmy

Yeah.

Bobby

You realize that we can't take a contingency on a girl's smile? If you had settled on two on a straight cash deal, this firm would have made an extra sixteen thousand dollars. You do know that.

Jimmy

It crossed my mind.

Bobby

Jimmy, you said you don't know what this place is. What you just did, I'd like to think that's, exactly what this place is. Good job.

Your associates talked to a juror. They were wrong. Judge Stevens was right.

Bobby

Technically.

That's the way we do things here, Bobby. Technically.

The picture's already been painted, Mr. Donnell. Do you read the papers?

Bobby

Mary Jane, the newspapers have done nothing to prepare you for what you're in for once you get in that witness chair.

That's argumentative and badgering.

Bobby

This is a cross examination. I would submit the doctor is being argumentative.

Let's just have a nice, civil murder trial, shall we?