Roman J. Israel, Esq.

"PC section 374.962."

"Burglary in the first degree."

"PC section A374962"

"provides, in relevant part,"

"a person commits the building

"which regularly or intermittently is used

"in place...

of... which..."

Hello?

"One resides in a period of 48..."

Yeah.

Yeah, of course I remember you. That's why I gave you my card.

Yeah, yeah. Ankle monitors don't just fall off. You cut them off.

It's a big difference.

Because it's a violation.

- How you doing? - I'm here.

Well, I can't advise you to do that.

I hear banging.

- William Henry Jackson. - Well, open it.

Right, open it before they kick it in.

Hello?

No. No. Dear Jesus.

Hello?

Oh, God. Where'd they take him?

Roman! William's had a heart attack outside his building.

He's at MLK.

- Is it serious? - Of course it's serious.

He's at the emergency room.

Call the hospital, and see what you can learn.

I'll tell you what to do.

I'll tell you exactly what we're gonna do.

Get Kibby on the phone. He can cover for him.

- Kibby retired. - When?

Years ago. Now, listen, Roman, William had a full day today.

- Okay. - You have to cover for him.

- Okay. - Tell the clients

and the prosecutors and the judges what's going on.

- Okay. - Get continuances.

- Okay. - Just continuances.

Just continuances.

I typed up his day. It's in there on my desk.

- All right. - Dear Lord.

Okay.

Just continuances.

All metal goes in the trays.

- Phones, change. - Step forward, please.

If you have a belt, please remove it.

Keys.

Any loose change.

You must remove it so it can be scanned.

Next person.

Put your arms out. Just hold right there.

Listen, my iPod, I got 8000 songs in here.

The last time I put that in there

I lost the bass range on

Gil Scott-Heron's "Winter in America."

Brian Jackson.

Everything gets scanned.

- Step up, please. - Next.

Thank you, sir.

All phones off.

Phones off.

All phones off.

Excuse me, sister. Where's the, uh...?

The court for white folks?

Phones off.

Wack-ass.

Quiet in the court.

Uh. Excuse me.

What do you have on number 32?

Langston Bailey?

This says William Jackson's his lawyer.

Well, Mr. Jackson had a heart attack this morning.

I'm Roman Israel, his partner.

I didn't know Jackson had a partner.

Well, I don't have the, uh, patience

for the butchery that occurs here. Mr. Jackson does.

You want a continuance?

What bail you offering?

No bail. And he pleas to count one.

I'll tell the judge and request a minimum five years.

He's facing 15 at trial.

For a 17-year-old breaking and entering?

Hell, why don't we just get it over with and shoot him?

That's the offer.

Do what you gotta do.

Offer doesn't really, I mean...

He's not taking top plea. I can tell you that.

You're already overcharging him.

L-Let's talk about mitigating circumstances.

He was caught wearing a T-shirt with a gang symbol.

Like the flag pin on your lapel.

Five years. That's as low as the People will go.

People? What people? There's no people.

There's just you making a bullshit career-climbing offer.

Come on, let's admit it.

Present it to your client.

His name is Langston.

He's a high school junior in good standing.

Plays on the soccer team.

All of this despite that his father's in jail.

His mother is in drug treatment.

And due to a legion of forces beyond his control,

he joined a gang for acceptance, family, and protection.

He has one prior minor offense.

Each one of us is greater than the worst thing we've ever done.

Deep bows.

Please, talk to your client.

My conviction rate's 100 percent.

All rise.

Court of District Nine is now in session.

The Honorable James Hurakami is presiding.

Langston Bailey.

Thank you, bailiff. You may be seated.

Wow, five to seven?

Thought I was going to juvie though.

I want to speak to Mr. Jackson.

He's in the hospital.

When's he coming back?

Wish I knew.

I want a new lawyer. I want to switch. I have rights.

Mr. Jackson is the one who comes to court,

but he comes to me for legal guidance.

Now, you're being overcharged to accept a plea,

and to keep things moving.

They want to punish you for even asking for a day in court.

It's a volume business.

With guards getting overtime,

and private companies owning the jails

and building them as well. It's a fact.

You want to fight, we'll fight. I mean, to hell with the bill.

But if we take it to trial,

and you lose,

they hit you with 15 years.

And they rarely lose.

Keep your head up.

And do some push-ups.

This is a preliminary hearing on the case

of The People of the State of California

v. William Carlos Ramirez.

Case number A64-9725.

Counsel will state your names.

People are represented by Michael Wesley.

Roman J. Israel, Esquire, on behalf of Mr. Ramirez.

Mr. Israel, I'll grant a continuance,

given lead counsel's medical emergency.

Um. I'd like to dive right in, Your Honor.

Very good.

Proceed.

Uh, your Honor, the People request the defendant,

Mr. William Carlos Ramirez

be held to answer on three counts of violating.

Health and Safety Code Section 11351:

possession of powder cocaine for sale.

Mr. Ramirez was observed and filmed making three drug sales

to undercover officers.

Mr. Ramirez made a confession to detectives

that he supported himself selling drugs.

Objection. Motion to strike. Mr. Ramirez was told

he was not under arrest, and was interrogated

without the benefit of his Miranda warning,

yet he was refused use of the bathroom.

That's a violation of civil rights.

Um, it wasn't an interrogation. It was an interview.

Overruled.

If a cop hauls you in, and says you can't use the bathroom

then you're being detained.

We're moving on.

What was he supposed to do, your Honor, pee himself?

You can wait, and address this at trial.

I would like to address it now.

I'm just saying we have a real...

Mr. Israel.

Did you hear what I said?

If...

armed guards in this courtroom detained you

and would not allow you to use the bathroom

you would, by all definition, be detained.

What is good for the goose is good for the gander.

I'm gonna hold you in contempt if you continue to pursue this.

With all due respect, you're asking me to obey

an erroneous court decision.

You tell me to wait. In my experience, wait...

Okay.

Find you in contempt.

Is there anything else you'd like to add before I set fine?

I told you to just get continuances.

Yeah, I'm filing an appeal.

Five thousand dollars?

Well...

"I wouldn't trust a lawyer that didn't get complaints

"from the prosecution or the court." Who said that?

- I have no idea. - William.

I can always count on you to say

the utterly inappropriate thing.

I'm with Lynn now. She's very upset about it.

How is he?

It's not good. They're still running tests.

All right, well, I'll come over to the hospital.

Don't. He's not even in his room. You understand?