In this episode of JAG, titled "Baby, It's Cold Outside" (after the Dean Martin song), Commander Rabb fights to keep Dan Craig (Richard Lawson), a former Marine drill instructor, from being sentenced to life imprisonment under the three strikes law. Rabb argues that when the D.I. pled guilty at his court-martial he couldn't have foreseen that it would be used as the first of three strikes to put him away for life.
Meanwhile, Admiral Chegwidden chairs the JAG officer Captain selection board. The board consists only of lawyers except for Captain Ingles (Gary Graham). Chegwidden faces political pressure to promote Commander Lindsey (W. K. Stratton) who has become the favorite of the Secretary of the Navy.
When the board passes on Lindsey, the SecNav (Paul Collins) demands Chegwidden reconvene the board. The board once again decline to recommend Lindsey for promotion, despite being fully aware of the SecNav's personal interest in Lindsey.
Petty Officer Tiner (Chuck Carrington) helps Gunnery Sergeant Galindez (Randy Vasquez) get seven parking tickets dismissed.
At the end of the episode, Chegwidden goes to a bar, where he is joined by Mac, then Rabb, Roberts and Sims (Karri Turner). The song "Baby, It's Cold Outside" comes on from the jukebox.
Tropes
- Continuity Nod to 'The Princess and the Petty Officer': In that episode, Dr. Walden dumped Chegwidden. He didn't tell anyone until this episode.
- Desk Jockey: Commander Lindsey apparently spent four years shuffling papers in an administrative role instead of trying cases in court or even deploying onboard ship as a Staff Judge Advocate. This hurts his chances at promotion.
- Drill Sergeant Nasty: Rabb's client of the week went a little too far in this role, resulting in
- Training "Accident": Two recruits at the Parris Island boot camp drown.
- Hair-Trigger Temper: Rabb's client once had this. He served time for assaulting a neighbor over a misplaced garbage can.
- "Not So Different" Remark: The State's Attorney looking to send Rabb's client away for life realizes that he himself has the same desire to harshly police his own disadvantaged black community as Rabb's client was harsher on black Marines.
- Passed-Over Promotion: We see how promotion selection boards actually work. Lindsey who is passed over, isn't denied the promotion outright — he is instead placed in the low preference list, meaning that should some calamity befall all captains in the Navy, he'd get the promotion.
- Pay Evil unto Evil: Rabb's client's third conviction is as a result of him beating a physically abusive father to a pulp right in front of the boy.
- Title Drop: In the bar, when the Dean Martin song comes on, Chegwidden and Rabb half-sing along.
- Walk and Talk: Lindsey wants to talk to Chegwidden at the Pentagon. But Chegwidden doesn't really want to Lindsey, so Chegwidden says "walk with me." They walk and talk through a long, narrow hallway until Chegwidden abruptly ends the conversation.
- With All Due Respect: Ingles finds one of Chegwidden's answers to his question about Lindsey a little hypocritical.Ingles: Would you consider bringing him [Lindsey] on to your staff?Chegwidden: No.Ingles: Why, sir?Chegwidden: Commander Lindsey goes outside the limits.Ingles: With all due respect, sir, I've had dealings with members of your staff, admiral. You give your lawyers a lot of latitude.
