History Characters / LawandOrder

* IconicSequelCharacter: One of the most fondly remembered characters in the show, but doesn't make an appearance until the fifth season.

* CowboyCop: More than once, he tells a suspect or someone obstructing the investigation that if they don't start coopertating he'll start getting more physical with them until they do.

* ByTheBookCop: A pragmatic example: Falco is studying law, and as such is very fastidious about making sure he and Fontano don't do anything that could get their evidence suppressed by a judge.

* FamilyMan: Deconstructed. He tried to balance between being a good wife and father and a dutiful son, but it didn't work out. They got divorced and his father died.

* DarkAndTroubledPast:
* FamilyMan

--> '''[=McCoy=]:''' I tell the judge. [stands up to leave]

* KnightTemplar: His behavior could dip into this if a case struck close to home or the the cause was justice in his opinion. He's been willing to tear into the First Amendment and equal protection laws if it means a conviction. One infamous situation was "Love Gov" where a murderer hides behind his gay marriage for protection; [=McCoy=] outright risks all gay marriages in the state of New York to get the man behind bars, and gains the ire of Serena in the process.

* IconicSequelCharacter: One of the most fondly remembered characters on the show, but doesn't make an appearance until the ninth season.
* InspectorJavert: Often displays a black-and-white view of crime and criminals, to the point where in early season 9 ("Punk") she has zero sympathy towards a young woman she sent to prison on a minor drug charge who is now accused of arranging the murder of a guard who was abusing her (demanding sexual favors from her and threatening to harm her daughter if she didn't comply). It's especially disturbing considering that Abbie is a rape survivor herself, yet her attitude towards the woman is essentially disbelief mixed with, "It's your fault for doing something that put you in jail in the first place". She eventually relents and convinces [=McCoy=] to set up a good deal for the woman.

** KnowWhenToFoldEm: In her guest appearance in the SVU pilot, she makes a merciful deal with the perp, given the victim's history with said perp and the co-conspirator's suicide. However, it's also unlikely that she would've gotten a conviction should the case go to trial.

* StatuesqueStunner: 5'10'', and sometimes taller than some men on the show. Her actress was a former model.

* LipstickLesbian

* StrawmanPolitical: Serena existed as the FoxNewsLiberal of the show, offering weak liberal talking points only to be invariably slapped down by Branch.

* GoodIsNotSoft: He was elected to make New Yorkers feel safer in the wake of 9/11.
** When district attorneys are getting murdered in "Open Season" due to the episode's Neo-Nazi suspect picking everyone that goes against him off, ''Arthur'' is the one that decides to breach usual attorney-client privilege against Danielle Melnick to prevent more murders. Even [=McCoy=] is surprised, but then [=McCoy=] is mostly protesting because of his personal ties to Danielle. [[spoiler:Arthur's rare risk pays off, as Danielle's client was using her as an unwitting patsy to set up the targets.]]

* {{UST}}: With Cutter. She's jealous of his flirting with a legal assistant, and she knows very well that he's in love with her.

Jack [=McCoy=]'s successor as EADA when he was appointed District Attorney. Cutter is just as ruthless, but with fewer scruples and a decidedly grayer outlook on justice.

** KarmaHoudiniWarranty: This doesn't last forever, as in his final episode he's pressured so hard by Cutter that he has no seeming choice but to [[spoiler:resign from being Governor in face of the backlash from the line-up of prostitutes he kept visiting that were tied to the Excalibur case.]] The best part? When [=McCoy=] confronts him on it with disapproval of potential blackmailing, [[spoiler:Cutter just had a blank white sheet of paper, legally bluffing Shalvoy into a complete and utter loss.]]

* BigBrotherIsWatching: Yee specializes in accessing the troves of the various surveillance cameras around New York City in order to track suspects and uncover clues.

!!!'''Appearances:''' ''Series/LawAndOrder''

!!!'''Appearances:''' ''Series/LawAndOrder''

* PutOnABus: The first episode of season 23 mentions that Frank was let go after being heard saying something politically incorrect who made a stink about it to the police department.

* PutOnABuss: The first episode of season 23 mentions that Frank was let go after being heard saying something politically incorrect who made a stink about it to the police department.

!!!'''Played By:''' Creator/SamWaterston (Seasons 5-20, Season 21-)