When police discover that a woman was murdered by a rapist who got out of prison thanks to a lenient deal by Price, DA Baxter takes the unusual step of trying the case himself.
- Bittersweet Ending; Payne is convicted and Baxter and Price repair their relationship, but Shell attempts suicide and is hospitalized.
- Kangaroo Court: Baxter says that Judge Nelson cares more about politics and optics than justice, and so in any close decision he'll always rule for the defense, even if the prosecution is truly in the right. Baxter is eventually able to get a favorable ruling from Nelson by threatening to make bad PR for him if he continues to blatantly favor the defense.
- Red Herring: Police suspect Mark Salerno, Angela's boyfriend, because he sent her threatening texts and had prior charges for battery. They later decide Salerno is innocent and the real suspect is the paroled rapist Payne, but Carter defends Payne by accusing Salerno of the murder again.
