Thursday January 23, 1997
OU12
Judge Bornstein receives a copy of Weikopf's demo tape anonymously and calls everyone into chambers, where she again questions Weikopf about her relationship with Hicks. When Weikopf stonewalls her, Bornstein produces an affidavit signed by Hicks which details their arrangement, as well as affidavits from major television networks attesting that Hicks was soliciting them on Weikopf's behalf. When Weikopf continues her denials, Bornstein kicks her off the case and out of the courtroom.
Hilly Jackson takes the stand and testifies that Rickey was carrying the murder weapon on the day Fortas was killed, and later asked him to dispose of it.
Closing arguments are presented and the case goes to the jury.
Later, Carla meets with Jimmy and Justine and tells them that Rickey has left her a note saying that he has gone into hiding. Jimmy figures that he has probably gone to Mexico or Canada, and tells Carla not to tell anyone else. He tells Justine to keep Chris and Aaron in the dark, so that they won't have to lie in court if Rickey doesn't surface soon. Justine calls Frank to get the search for Rickey started.
Frank finds out that Rickey called Christine Phillips nine times the day he left town, and that Rickey and Christine had a long romantic history. After talking to Christine's father and sister, Jimmy tracks Christine down and persuades her to give up Rickey's whereabouts. Jimmy calls Hicks, and they go to Mexico together to bring Rickey back.
The jury reaches its decision and everyone is called into court to hear the verdict. Chris manages to get a one day continuance from Judge Bornstein, pleading that Rickey is ill. The next morning, Rickey is still not in court, and the prosecution tells Judge Bornstein that Rickey's car has been found at the airport. Chris tries to get another continuance, which is denied, and Judge Bornstein orders that he be placed under arrest until he can produce Rickey in court. At that moment, Rickey and Jimmy walk into court. The jury is brought in and a not guilty verdict is returned.
Rickey pontificates to the waiting press that after years of discrimination, a black man finally received some justice in the courtroom. Jimmy advises Hicks to tell Rickey that since everybody knows that he got away with murder, Rickey should tone down the rhetoric.
Weikopf comes to the office and begs Jimmy for a job, since her career in the D.A.'s office is over, and Hicks is no longer representing her. Jimmy turns her down flat.
The mood at the office is subdued as everyone gathers in the conference room to watch the analysis of the verdict on Law TV. Rickey and Carla stop in to thank everyone. As they leave, Aaron takes Rickey aside and asks him if he really believes that his race was the basis for his prosecution. When Rickey says no, Aaron tells him to stop talking as if it were, and not to lie to people. Rickey glad-hands him, and Carla looks away, embarrassed.
Aaron tells Jimmy and Chris that he admires their work on the case and respects their willingness to go all out for the client. He and Chris go off for a drink. Alone in the office later that evening, Jimmy tells Justine that he would never get romantically involved with a coworker. He tells her she's fired as he leans in to kiss her.
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