Directed by Richard Dobbs
Written by Lynn Mamet & Barry Schindel
Jimmy and Amy Beltran have mysteriously deserted their apartment, and blood stains found in the bathroom cause concern for the welfare of their baby son Kyle. His body is eventually found in the back yard of Jimmy's parents' home; he had starved to death. Amy had been struggling to breastfeed and visited a lactation specialist for a short time. In the absence of enough evidence for a joint case, Abbie decides to try Amy alone despite it being politically contentious to hold only the mother responsible. The case turns into a bench trial when the defense prejudices the jury by showing them autopsy photos before the evidence has started.
The defense portrays Jimmy as a neglectful father and the lactation specialist as a bully who intimidated Amy so much that she did not dare to bottle-feed. Abbie expresses disbelief that any mother who saw her child in the malnourished state the autopsy photos show could fail to notice he was starving to death. She argues that the law that protects a woman's right to end a pregnancy also requires that they accept responsibility if they choose to have the baby. The judge concurs and finds Amy guilty of second degree manslaughter. Abbie is dissatisfied that the Beltrans will serve at most three years of jail between them, but McCoy points out that she won the case and wishes her better luck tomorrow.
This episode contains examples of:
- Death of a Child: The victim in this episode is only 7 weeks old.
- Elopement: What the Beltrans did, since Amy's parents didn't approve of her pregnancy.
- Outliving One's Offspring: Both of the baby's parents are still alive throughout the episode.
- Parental Neglect: The plot of the episode.
- Soapbox Sadie: The lactation advisor is this where breastfeeding is concerned.
- Straw Feminist: None of the characters in the episode actually qualify, but Schiff warns Abbie that she will face the wrath of such people for trying a case on the grounds that a mother should bear the greater share of responsibility for her child's wellbeing.
- Teen Pregnancy: Amy Beltran is only 18 years old and was 17 when she got pregnant.
