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Jimmy's mentor, Sidney Pomerantz, is dying of cancer and asks him to take over the case of Clifford Banks, a man accused of murdering 17 people.
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.
The defense team discusses strategy in the light of Rickey's confession to Jimmy and Justine. Chris suggests that Rickey not be put on the witness stand. Justine says that they should do whatever they can to present a sympathetic view of Rickey to the jury. Jimmy is adamant that Rickey should confess on the stand and hope that the jury finds that he was justified in killing Fortas. This angers Aaron, and he leaves the room. Gwen announces her engagement. Since her fiance is being transferred to New York right away and she wants to go with him, she bids Jimmy a fond farewell. Jimmy begins to look for her replacement. After several disastrous interviews, Jimmy is at a loss until Louis returns from Europe and Jimmy hires him on the spot. Rickey's mother and a former professional basketball player who Rickey is helping financially testify as character witnesses for him. Michaelson, a prostitute and a madam give damaging testimony about Fortas's character. Rickey replaces Michaelson with Hicks, who expresses his disappointment in the way Jimmy's handling the case. Hicks also tells Jimmy that Hilly Jackson has been arrested on drug charges and that Scotto has been pressuring him into flipping on Rickey. When Jimmy asks how he knows this, Hicks tells him that Weikopf has been leaking information to him about the case in exchange for Hicks's help in distributing her demo tape and helping her get a job as a sportscaster. When Jimmy confronts her about the leaks, Weikopf begs him not to turn her in, but he refuses. Judge Bornstein confronts Weikopf about the leaks and she denies everything. She says that Jimmy is retaliating against her because she plans to file a sexual harassment suit against him for unwanted advances towards her when he was still a prosecutor. Bornstein orders an investigation. When Jimmy gets Weikopf alone, she admits that she lied about the harassment. After Rickey and Jimmy visit Jackson in jail, they realize that he has already agreed to testify against Rickey in exchange for a reduced sentence on the drug charges. Rickey finally testifies, and says that his wife had been tricked into having sex with Fortas in exchange for a tape that he was going to use to blackmail Rickey. Rickey testifies that he killed Fortas to protect his family. Scotto is outraged and requests a conference in chambers. Bornstein is equally outraged and fines the defense. She also has all of the testimony disparaging Fortas stricken from the record.
The firm is in the middle of having a meeting with Ricky Latrelle and his agent, discussing the juror selection when the episode begins. A man walks in, claiming that he need to check the smoke-detector. He starts asking Latrelle to sign an autograph for his son and pulls out a basketball for Ricky to sign. Wyler notices that something is bothering Aaron and he questions him about it. Aaron states that Chris has had too much control over choosing the juror and it will only hurt their case. An old friend of Ricky's invites him to play in a celebrity golf tournament. Ricky says he'll think about it. Chris asks to speak with Aaron later. Chris says that he can't trust him and the two begin arguing loudly. Wyler walks in and says that they had better begin defending their client or they can leave. The smoke detector man shows up at the firm again. The secretary confronts him and tells him not to bug Ricky again. Ricky's friend, Mr. Hicks, says that Chris is doing a good job with the jury and that the jury will soon be all-black. Chris appears to disapprove of this. The jury selection is complete and the opening statements begin with the prosecution. After, Mr. Hicks suggests to Aaron that he give the opening statement rather than Chris. Despite the talk, Chris gives the opening statement. The lead detective testifies in the Latrelle case. He states that the gun that killed Sandy was registered to Ricky. Chris asks the detective if there were any finger prints found on the gun. The detective says no. The securtiy guard testifies. He says that he say Ricky walking out of an elevator and asked for an autograph. He says that Ricky was in a hurry. Mr. Hicks confronts Aaron and gives him a package. A friend of Ricky's, Jackson, testifies. Justine catches the smoke-detector man looking through the firm's trash. Latrelle's wife visits with Jimmy about his objections of Ricky doing public relations. Ricky's agent, Michelson, testifies. He claims that he left Ricky with Sandy and when he returned, Sandy was dead. Aaron says that Hicks had given them information that gives Michelson motive and oppurtunity to commit the crime. This disturbs Wyler because he had considered Michelson a friend. Jimmy later confides in Justine, his feeling about Michelson.
The tabliod reporter catches up with Wyler and offers to pay him two million dollars for the location of Carmine. The detective on the Rooney case also meets up with Wyler. He expresses his disappointment that Wyler is now involved with scum like Carmine. Ricky Latrelle's manager talks with Wyler. He says that he would prefer it if Wyler ran the show rather than Chris. Aaron tells Chris that he would like to do most of the talking because the juror will identify with a black man. Wyler and the detective meet with Carmine, who has been placed in a hotel room. Carmine says that the contract was out on VanAllen's mistress. He shot both the victims. Carmine also claims that he didn't know that he had shot the governor, he thought VanAllen was just another guy. Carmine also talks about how he killed Terry Philburg. The tabliod reporter stops by Wyler's office saying that there's a gentleman who's willing to meet with Wyler. This "gentleman" is looking for Carmine. Latrelle is forced to put up his mother's house to pay for bail. After some arguements in both sides of the court, Latrelle is granted bail. After Latrelle's bail hearing, a smiling Ricky makes his way through a very supportive crowd. Wyler meets with the friend of the tabliod reporter. He offers Wyler two million dollars for the location of Carmine. While Wyler and the man are talking, the detective is hidden, taking pictures of the suspect. Later, Carmine recognizes the man as the one who hired him, Roades (?). Once again, Wyler meets with the man who offered him the two million dollars. This time, Jimmy wears a wire and the detective listens in the distance. Within moments, the police arrest Roades, Malcolm Dietrich's personal lawyer. Roades denies everything. Roades says he can only connect Roger Garfield to the Terry Philburg murder. Miriam Grasso is amazed. She agrees to go to talk with Roger along with Wyler and the detective. Garfield says that he knew Terry was going to be murdered but didn't do anything. He says he wants full immunity to testify against Malcolm Dietrich. Apparently, Dietrich was involved with Marlee (Tom VanAllen's mistress) and became jealous, eventually having her killed. Wyler meets with Malcolm Dietrich. Malcolm continues to offer him the five million dollars. Wyler tells him that he's been caught. Jimmy opens the office door when the police walk in and arrest Malcolm. Roger Garfield appears on television and states that he is resigning as governor.
Ricky Latrell's manager, Lee Michaelson, tells Jimmy that their long standing friendship should not get in the way of Jimmy's making him an alternate suspect, if it will help Rickey's case. Jimmy assures him that's not going to happen. When Chris and Aaron propose the same thing later that day, Jimmy has a heated exchange with them about not ruining Michaelson's reputation. Laura stops by Jimmy's office to tell him that she's accepting a job offer in San Francisco because she realizes that their relationship is over. Miriam and Jimmy give their closing statements and the jury retires to deliberate Sharon's fate. The jury asks to review Beiden's testimony about seeing Sharon fleeing the scene. This news gets Sharon quite agitated because she believes that the jury is leaning towards a conviction. After three long days of deliberation, the jury returns a verdict of not guilty. As Sharon leaves the courthouse, a woman hurls epithets at her and spits in her face. She wonders if she will ever be able to live peacefully again. Felicia Norell interviews Jimmy and Sharon on her tv show that evening, and reveals that the polls show that most Americans think that Sharon has gotten away with murder. The firm hosts a victory party at the office. Sharon locks herself in the bathroom. At Sally's urging, Jimmy breaks the door down and finds Sharon dead, lying in a pool of blood with her wrists slashed. Frank tells Jimmy that a mob hitman named Carmine D'Nardis is in custody on a homicide charge and wants Jimmy to represent him. When Frank tells D'Nardis that Jimmy isn't interested, D'Nardis tells Frank that he has information on the Van Allan-Donovan murders and that time is of the essence, because the mob has put out a hit on D'Nardis. When Jimmy meets with him, D'Nardis offers to clear 12 homicides for the L.A.P.D., including the Van Allan-Donovan murders, and testify against the head of the local crime family in exchange for immunity and relocation. After Jimmy assures Garfield that the positive press he'll get for clearing these homicides and convicting high-level mobsters will pave his way to the U.S. Senate, Garfield takes the deal. Carmine gives Det. Biggio everything he promised, and tells Jimmy that he killed Van Allan and Donovan.
Judge Bell grants Miriam's motion that all of Larry White's testimony be stricken because there was no opportunity to cross-examine him, but denies her motion to quash Garfield's subpoena. On the stand, Garfield admits that he knew Terry Philbrick, but denies that he ever said that the only way to beat Tom Van Allan is to have him killed. He also denies knowing Larry White. Laura thanks Jimmy for clearing her name and getting her job back, even though she's going to resign immediately. She tells him that he was right about Dietrich, and to be careful of him. Holding up his end of the deal, Jimmy gives Dietrich the video tape of his attempted bribe outside the courtroom. When Dietrich takes the stand and denies trying to bribe him, Jimmy asks what's on the video tape in his pocket. Dietrich's silence speaks volumes. Frank catches Donny McKee trying to skip town and drags him into the office. Jimmy warns McKee that if he doesn't testify, Jimmy won't go to bat for him with the D.A., which means he'll probably do 15 years on the drug charges. McKee sees the wisdom of cooperating with Jimmy, and testifies about getting beaten by two thugs who tell him to stay away from Marlee. Jimmy meets with Samantha's psychiatrist, who confirms that Samantha was having an affair with Van Allan and that Caroline's family had that information in the notes she was forced to release to them during the lawsuit. Upset about her subpoena, Caroline storms into Jimmy's office, and he brushes her off. When Justine asks Jimmy if she should take over when Caroline is on the stand, Jimmy tells her that his relationship with Caroline is over. Justine then confesses that she has a crush on Jimmy. Caroline files a complaint against Jimmy for witness tampering, claiming that he seduced her in an attempt to convince her to change her testimony. Judge Bell denies Miriam's request to have Jimmy removed from the case, but assures her that Jimmy's conduct will be investigated as soon as the trial is over. Caroline takes the stand and denies knowing that her husband had an affair with her sister Samantha. Jimmy forces her to admit that shortly after her family came into possession of the psychiatrist's notes, she stopped sleeping with her husband. Jimmy, noting that Tom Van Allan was killed shortly thereafter, asks Caroline if she killed him in a fit of rage over the affair and her sister's suicide after Van Allan dumped her. Sharon Rooney tearfully testifies in her own defense. She says that she received a call from one of Tom's aides who told her that Tom wanted to meet her at the beach house. When she arrived, she went up the back stairs to the bedroom, as usual, and found the bodies of Van Allan and Donovan. Horrified and in shock, she ran to her car and drove aimlessly until she hit another car and was arrested. When Jimmy asks her what she meant when she jumped up claiming that she was the guilty one, Sharon says that she meant that she was guilty of killing her baby, not Van Allan and Donovan. She says that she has been praying to God for forgiveness for aborting her baby and cheating on her husband. She states that she doesn't want the jury to convict her, but that if she is convicted, at least she'll be with her baby. Rickey Latrell is arrested. At his arraignment, Chris enters a not guilty plea and requests bail, which is denied. Garfield wins the election for governor.
Larry White's expenses become larger. Arnold comes in late to the firm's meeting because he is out buying vitamins and other such thing for White. Ricky Latrell appears on a television program, answering questions about being accused of the murder of Sandy Portas. The Private Investigator announces that Larry White is missing. Wyler asks him to search for Larry. Michael, the security officer, is brought onto the stand again. He is questioned about being obsessed with Caroline VanAllen. Wyler brings up the fact that Caroline had to get a restraining order against him. Miriam Grasso objects to the questioning but it is allowed. Wyler also brings up the fact that Michael had tried to attack him but he defended himself. Michael says that is not true and he was just going to confront Wyler about his affair with Caroline when he was attacked. Wyler suggests that Michael is the perfect candidate to be the murderer, due to his temper. Michael also says that he never attacked Caroline by pulling her out of her car and threatening her. He also says that Wyler is the violent and abusive one, not him. Sharon asks Wyler if it is true that he was seeing Caroline VanAllen. He says it is. Caroline seems upset that he is. She states that she doesn't know if she can trust him. Even after she says she will try to trust him, it seems like she still doesn't. The Detective testifies on the stand. Wyler suggests that he ignored the evidence against Michael. Ricky Latrell visits the firm and is scolded because he appeared on television. Latrell says he has nothing to hide. Detective Sebo visits, wanting to talk to Latrell. Chris allows the detective to talk to their client. Ricky is very cooperative with the detectives. He says that he, his agent and Sandy were having a business dinner when the agent left, leaving the other two alone. The detective suddenly produces a gun, which is apparently the murder weapon, registered to him. Chris suggests that Ricky doesn't speak anymore and he takes that advice. Jimmy goes out for dinner with his mother at a restaurant. Mom Wyler disproves with Jimmy's affair with Caroline. She also has a few too many drinks ("loaded" in Jimmy's words). Unfortunately, as they drive home, Jimmy is pulled over by the police for an expired licence plate. The police officers ask him to step out of the vehicle and Jimmy accuses them of harassing him because he grilled a cop on the stand that day. When the officers go to take his mother, Wyler tries to stop them but instead is slammed up against the hood of the car. Justine comes to bail Jimmy out of jail. As court continues the next day, Jimmy looks frazzled and rather untidy. He asks the court to recess because he was "unavoidably detained." He admits he was in jail because of unpaid parking tickets and such. Donny McKee was arrested and the firm's private investigator suggests that Jimmy talk to him. Jimmy meets with an old collegue in the DA's office and asks to give Donny McKee a break. She says she'll need a couple of days. Larry White meets with Jimmy Wyler in his office, claiming that his absence was caused by a few panick attacks. Larry White is rehearsed for the witness stand. He says that he had to "get ride of" the women who Tom was finished with, including Caroline's sister. (Apparently, her sister, Samantha, was drowned but Larry knew she killed herself.) Jimmy's ex-girlfriend comes to see him because she is under investigation by the bank's management. Wyler immediately suspects Malcolm Deitriech. Larry White takes the stand. He looks very nervous and sick, almost. He has to ask Wyler to repeat questions and drinks a lot from his water. He asks the judge if he can take some pills because his "stomach was acting up." Larry falls silent after seeing Malcolm Dietriech walk into the courtroom. Larry says he recognizes the gun as one that he had bought for his girlfriend. Finally, Wyler sees that Larry is not well and asks to approach the bench. All of a sudden, Larry falls to the ground, dead. Miriam quickly objects to his testimony. Wyler visits Malcolm in his garden, angry. He threatens to give the tape of Malcolm trying to bribe him to the media.
Jimmy Wyler visits Kyle Rooney in the hospital he works at. Wyler confronted him about the fact that the firm's private investigator had found out Kyle was having an affair with a nurse. Jimmy implies that Sharon is only confessing to the murders because she fells so guilty about cheating on her husband. Ricky Latrell, a basketball player, visits the firm. The team owner was found murdered and he wants to make sure he's not accused because he found the body. Jimmy says he'll take the case. The plea bargain resurfaces offering Sharon only four and a half years in jail. Once again, they turn it down. A ballistics expert testifies in the Rooney case. He says that all eight bullets were fired from the same gun which was owned by Rooney's roommate. In cross examination, Jimmy says the evidence doesn't establish anything. Later, while Jimmy is visiting Sharon, he sees that she's very upset. Apparently, Kyle had told her about his affair with the nurse. Caroline VanAllen testifies in the Rooney case. In the cross examination, Jimmy questions her about the money which she put into his account. Caroline says that she gave it to him because she doesn't believe Sharon killed her husband. She believes that Malcolm Deitrech is the real murderer. Jimmy hands Caroline a check for two hundred thousands dollars right in front of the jury. Caroline later visits Wyler at his office. She says that she feels so free because she told the truth on the stand. Caroline kisses Wyler. Ricky Latrell has his house searched but Wyler isn't sure if they even had a warrant. He asks his private investigator to look into it. Jimmy's private investigator says that he followed Michael, Caroline's security guard, to Caroline house but also saw another car. It is implied that Jimmy spent the night at Caroline's house. A consellor for an organization called Life Choices testifies. She says that Rooney came to the centre and discussed the option of adoption. She also states that Sharon became very angry when the consellor talked about abortion. Justine cross-examines the consellor and finds out that she is pro-life and was showing Sharon graphics pictures of abortion when she became angry. The prosecution rests. The defense moves to have the case dismissed because of insufficient evidence. The motion is denied. In the Latrell case, Arnold wants second chair but thinks that Aaron will be chosen instead because of his race. Caroline comes to see Wyler in his office, distraught because Michael had come after her. She had been driving when she was cut off and Michael had jumped out of his car, yelling and tried to pull her out of her car. Jimmy offers to keep Caroline at a hotel. The head of a private school for girls testifies that Sharon was a good teacher. Jimmy asks if Sharon was ever violent and the woman says yes. Wyler looks shocked because he had rehearsed with the witness and she hadn't said that. Sharon jumps up in court again and says that the witness is lying. Wyler questions the head of the private school if she was paid to change her testimony. She denies it. As Jimmy is walking to his car, he is surprised by Michael. Michael tries to injure Wyler but Jimmy was too quick. He punched Michael and left him on the floor as he drove off. Jimmy's mother comes to the office and see Malcolm Dietriech. She storms off after yelling at him. Malcolm shows Jimmy photos that he has acquired of him and Caroline together. He says that he'll give them to a tabloid. Then, Jimmy stands up and turns on a television which shows that he has been taping his whole visit with Malcolm. Jimmy says he'll keep the tape if Malcolm keeps the photos.
The firm becomes aware of their financial troubles. They seem a little angry at Wyler in the opening scene. Adrienne, an inmate in the cell across from Sharon's, says she heard her confess to the murders. Rooney apparently told her where the weapon was hidden. Later, the weapon is found in this location. Wyler requests money from the court and receives very little of it. Caroline VanAllen later offers money because she doesn't believe Rooney is the killer. Wyler denies the offer. Wyler meets with a man named Larry White. Apparently, he was a spy on the VanAllen campaign. White believes he helped set up the murder. Wyler gives him protection to testify as a "secret witness." As Sharon's husband is testifying, Sharon jumps up and yells, "I'm the one who's guilty! I should be punished!" Wyler moves for a mistrial but is denied. The jury is allowed to consider the statements in her outburst. The criminalist testifies that a trail of carpet fibres incriminates Rooney. While Justine is cross-examining him, she asks if he has ADD, which he does. He had told Wyler that as a friend and later states that he is very angry that Jimmy betrayed him. $200,000 mysteriously shows up in the firm's account. Later, they find out it's from Caroline. Wyler tries to give the money back but she won't accept it. Justine walks by Jimmy's office later, catching Wyler and Caroline kissing.
During Miriam's opening statement, she contends that Sharon was a spurned lover who killed Van Allan in a fit of rage because he forced her to have an abortion when she became pregnant with his child. Upon hearing this revelation, Jimmy requests an immediate recess because he is "indisposed". During the recess, Jimmy asks Sharon if Miriam was correct about the pregnancy and abortion, and severely chastises her for not telling him about it. She tells him that she couldn't tell anyone, because killing her baby was the worst thing she had ever done. Later, Jimmy tells Justine that this statement convinces him that Sharon isn't guilty. After court adjourns for the day, the defense team meets back at the office and discusses the effect of the revelation of Sharon's abortion on Juror #6, a devout Catholic. They begin looking for information to get him disqualified. Jimmy and Frank meet with Terry Philbrick, a dirty tricks operative inside the Garfield campaign. For a $25,000 payment, he offers to testify that he overheard Garfield say that the only way to beat Van Allan is to kill him. Jimmy finds out that his office has been bugged and sends Frank off to warn Philbrick. Frank is too late -- Philbrick is found dead in his hotel room Jimmy's plans to introduce Laura to his mother over dinner go awry when Frances leaves abruptly after discovering that Laura works at a bank that Dietrich controls. After she leaves, Jimmy explains that his father was a labor organizer who took a payoff from Dietrich when the Wyler family ran into financial difficulties. His father died suddenly soon afterwards, and Frances claims he was murdered by Dietrich.
In an effort to save his marriage and reestablish his relationship with his family, Ted Hoffman has left the firm and is traveling in Europe with Annie and Lizzie. As a result, Lisa and Lila have also left the firm. Chris represents Greg Ladich, a police officer accused of brutality during a routine car-stop. During cross-examination, the prosecutor, Jimmy Wyler, manages to bait Ladich so successfully that Ladich sucker-punches him in the nose. Wyler rests his case; after forty minutes of deliberation, the jury hands him a guilty verdict. On his way out of the courtroom, Jimmy receives the disturbing news that Roger Garfield has given Jimmy's promotion to another attorney. Jimmy confronts Garfield, who admits that he gave the promotion away in retaliation for Jimmy's cutting him out of a press conference after Jimmy had won a big case. Certain that Garfield's bid for governor will be unsuccessful, and unwilling to work for him any longer, Jimmy resigns. When Jimmy finds out that the governor of California, Tom Van Allan, and his current mistress have been murdered and that Van Allan's former mistress, Sharon Rooney, has been arrested for the crime, he visits Sharon in jail and convinces her to let him represent her instead of someone from the Public Defender's Office. At the arraignment, Jimmy enters a not guilty plea for Sharon and requests bail, which is denied. At the conclusion of the hearing, Aaron Mosely, the PD originally assigned to Sharon's case, angrily confronts Jimmy about taking away the case which could have made his career. Jimmy offers Aaron a position on the team, which Aaron accepts the next day. Chris meets with Jimmy and offers him a place as the head of the firm, to which Jimmy agrees after getting a loan from his bank. He finds out later that Malcolm Dietrich, a wealthy and powerful man with extremely antagonistic ties to the Wyler family who is also Garfield's chief backer in his race for governor, has personally approved the loan. When Dietrich tries to buy Jimmy off by offering to put him on retainer, Jimmy throws him out of the office. Jimmy appoints Justine as second chair on the case to the disappointment of both Chris and Arnold. Sharon attempts suicide by hanging herself with a bedsheet in her cell. Jimmy comforts her and asks her to trust him to take care of things.
