Law & Order (TV Series)

Crimebusters (2009)

Linus Roache: Executive ADA Michael Cutter

Quotes 

• Jack McCoy : I can't believe the police allowed these people to come near this case in the first place.

  Connie Rubirosa : These people did identify the biker in the video before the police did, and they found two damning pieces of evidence.

  Michael Cutter : Neither of which we'll be able to use. Fat lot of good it does us.

  Jack McCoy : Do what you can about the motion to suppress, but if any evidence falls out, make a deal.

  Connie Rubirosa : What, a plea bargain for killing a baby? How can you defend that?

  Jack McCoy : By acknowledging that no reasonable person could have anticipated that a woman and her baby had been allowed to spend the night in a recruitment center.

  Michael Cutter : Nice fig leaf.

  Jack McCoy : It covers enough.

• Michael Cutter : Suppression is a remedy that punishes police misconduct. The police did absolutely nothing wrong here. The brick was stolen by civilians.

  Attorney Wilson : Who'd been for all practical purposes deputized to investigate this case.

  Michael Cutter : That's not accurate. They helped identify a suspect in a photo that was released to the public.

  Judge Noreen Morrison : I think I just heard a hair split, Mr. Cutter. Talk to me about the backpack.

  Attorney Wilson : Again, it was stolen from my client by the same deputized vigilantes after they mugged him.

  Connie Rubirosa : No. We have affidavits from the detectives that these civilians were warned to stay away from Mr. Sherman. They were not working as agents of the police.

  Attorney Wilson : Even granting that, the People can't establish a chain of custody for the backpack. The butane may have been planted by the vigilantes.

  Judge Noreen Morrison : That you'll have to argue to a jury, Mr. Wilson. The backpack is coming in, the bricks are out. See you in court.

• Jack McCoy : Are you trying to make this easier for Shalvoy? I told you I would decide how to proceed. Do you have any idea what a minefield this case has become thanks to this arrest? You damn well better have some new and compelling evidence against her.

  Michael Cutter : We have a recording of statements she made to her gal pal. Statements that weren't in the papers. We have means, opportunity, and now we have motive. Not to mention evidence of flight. She's the better case.

  Jack McCoy : It's still gonna look like we reversed course because we saw her chugging a beer on the front page of the Daily News.

  Michael Cutter : The cops were investigating her before her late night antics made the news, so don't worry. You're covered.

  Jack McCoy : Dismiss against Derek Sherman and make a deal with Carly. Quietly.

  Michael Cutter : How's that gonna look?

  Jack McCoy : Better than the circus her trial would be. I want this case closed. And Mike, if Shalvoy's hack wins this election, don't for a second imagine you'll get away with pulling half the crap you pull with me.

• [last lines] 

  Jack McCoy : I'm sure you could strip the flesh off Carly's bones on cross; she's traumatized, you might be able to get her to say whatever you want. And Sherman's looking at fifty years; I don't doubt that we can ram a plea bargain down his throat now. I'm declining to prosecute both Mrs. Di Gravia and Mr. Sherman because we can't say which one is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. A fog of war is blinding us to the truth.

  Michael Cutter : Better not to convict anyone than convict the wrong person.

  Connie Rubirosa : I can see the headlines now. "No justice for baby Mikey."

  Michael Cutter : You're gonna take a lot of heat for this.

  Jack McCoy : I can live with that. So can you.