All Rise

We still need to prove at trial

that Jesse Frost started swinging a baseball bat

becausethey were people of color.

Because he's going to try to depict you as racist.

Guess we're just gonna have to hope that this judge

is gonna rule fairly.

I didn't do nothing, I didn't...

- My name is Lola Carmichael... - Stop where you are.

And I am a judge.

I was just searching through my backpack for my cellphone.

- I can show you. - I know, because...

- Hey, hey! - Wait! No, no, no, no!

What the hell is going on, Lo? What did you do?

Instead of asking the copwhy I was being zip-tied,

you asked me what I did wrong.

You haven't talked to Luke.

Em, it's been, like, four months?

I told you that we are taking a break.

Yeah, to, like, work some things out. Did you?

We will.

Now who are youand why are you here?

Hey, is this your new law clerk? Ness Johnson.

- Hello, wife. - I'm pregnant.

You obviouslydidn't tell me everything

that happened that night.

You haven't seen the video? You've gone viral.

Defund the police! Defund the police!

Defund the police!

- Hey, wait! - No, no, no, no!

I will not tell you again.

Please. I am a judge at the H.O.J.

I can show you my credentials.

I don't care where you work.

You're obstructing an active investigation. Move.

An active investigation? She has a backpack.

Move.

Defund the police!

Do you see this? This is why they're protesting.

It's why they're chanting, "Defund the police."

They don't feel like their lives are being protected and served.

Put your hands behind your back.

Step to the side.

That video was fire.

I have it savedas a wallpaper on my phone.

That way, every time I get a text,

I see Lola screaming at a cop.

- Judge Carmichael. - Right. I'm sorry.

It is a disaster.

I don't see what the big deal is, anyway.

Judges aren't supposed to attendprotests, let alone...

- I wasn't protesting. - The same ones

as the defendant in their case.

Judges are supposed to remain neutral referees.

I stood up to a bully who was using his badge

to intimidate a young Black girl.

That video only starts once things got heated.

So it doesn't show the whole picture,

but I think we can all agree on how this looks.

It looks hot. It literally gives me life.Clearly.

If the public perceives Judge Carmichael as biased...

On the Frost case?

The kid went into a crowdof protesters

and started swinging his bat. He's obviously guilty.

Why is she in here right now?

You're a clerk, Ms. Johnson.

Your job is to research my cases,

not to pass judgment on them.

I'm not allowedto have an opinion?

- We'd rather you didn't. - Ness and I are just leaving.

So, who do you think leaked it?

Clearly someone who wants people to think

I can't be impartial on the Frost case.

This video happened months ago,

and now it surfaced

right before I have to rule on the hate crime enhancement?

Someone is setting you upfor a lot of scrutiny,

or they want you to recuse...

- Not gonna happen. - Are you sure?

What happened that night represents everything

that I want to change about the system.

Seeing that young girl standing there alone...

Carmichael.

Your heart was in the right place.

But we make a difference in the courtroom,

not on the streets.

We can't just be impartial, fair, and unbiased.

We have to be seen that way, too.

See? It was recorded there.

Yeah.

We gonna talk about the elephant in the room?

I can't even walk down the hall

without hearingabout that video.

When Lola told mewhat happened that night...

Yeah. Imagine how she's feeling right now.

I know exactly what it feels like

to be torn between being Black and doing your job.

She should know better than to get into an altercation

with peace officers at a protest.

Since when are armed officers

surrounding one teenage girl considered peaceful?

Okay. No matter how you spin it,

it'sit's not a good look.

- Rachel, stop. - Come on, Mark.

If you were on our side, you'd be baying for Lola

to recuse herself. Lola wouldn't even be

in this position if it wasn't for me.

They're calling her the "BLM judge." Are you kidding me right now?

You know you're not supposed to be part of this counsel.

- Bailiff? - Is he joking?

I can't tell.

- Don't you dare. - Callan, get off your soapbox.

The video speaks for itself.

Our client cannot get a fair hearing,

at least not in this courtroom.

Okay, the last thing anyone wants is for Lola

to make a decision in the samemind frame she had that night.

Judge Carmichael would never let her personal convictions...

How is our clientsupposed to feel

like he got the fair trial he constitutionally deserves

when the judge handlinghis case is all over the news

yelling "Defund the police"? Lola wasn't protesting I was there. I saw it.

If you thought she was right,

why didn't you do anything to help her?

- Are you kidding me right now? - Break it up.

Everyone, back to their corners.

Judge Carmichael will be in shortly.

How bad was it?

Ken and Barbie definitely had the gloves off.

Won't be pretty in the Dreamhouse tonight.

Any luck on finding the young girl

that goes with that backpack?

The Sheriff's Department hasn't found anything yet.

It's not on their list of top priorities.

That night, hundreds of people drove past

and saw exactly what you saw.

Every single one of them looked the other way.

Sometimes all it takes

is for one person to make a difference,

and for that girl somewhere out there,

that person is you.

It was the right thing to do.

But ruling on this hate crime enhancement

is gonna call my judgmentinto public opinion,

and everyone who has seen that video

has already made uptheir mind.

And you'll do what you always do...

Rule justly and fair.

You got this, Your Honor.

Thanks, Sherri.

Yes. This is Emily Lopez.

Yes. For Carrie Banks? Yes.

Yes.

I understand that her body has not been claimed yet.

I'ml'm still trying to track down...

I understand. I just need a little more time.

72 hours?

Thank you. Thank you.

Rough call?

My robbery client who died in custody from COVID.

The coroner's office is at capacity,

and the county is going to cremate

and then bury her in a pauper's grave.

Where's the family?

Her two children are with D.C.F.S.

They didn't get to see their mother before she died, Carole.

She was in quarantine. It just

never feels like it's enough.

I don't know anyone whodoes more for their clients

than you do.

I wasn't able to get Carrie out of jail in time,

but those kids deserve to bury their mother with dignity.

I am going to make sure they get to.

All rise.

You may be seated.

Back on the record, in the People v. Frost.

Pending before the court is the People's motion to amend...

Adding the hate crime enhancement

to both count one,

attempted, willful, deliberate murder,

and count two, assault with a deadly weapon.

The court has heard the argument and reviewed

the preliminary hearing transcript.

It is clear that all of the named victims

in this matter are people of color,

and that the defendant, Mr. Frost, is not.

The court strongly believes

that hate has no place in civilized society,

and that it should be punished.

But the court also believes in the rule of law.

Therefore the court has determined

that the evidence the People presented

in the preliminary hearing was insufficient

to warrant adding the hate crime amendment.

Therefore, the People's motion is denied.

We'll start opening statements tomorrow.

Captioned by Los Angeles Distribution and Broadcasting, Inc.

Hearing didn't go as expected?

Judge Carmichael tossed the hate crime enhancement.

- What? Why? - Apparently, we didn't prove

that the attack was racially motivated.