The robbery of an armored car at an OTB parlor leaves two dead security guards and another robber, plus a comatose. They used weapons rigged for full automatic fire. Briscoe and Green follow the leads all the way to a suburban militia, the well-armed New Sons of Liberty. They don't recognize the government's authority and declare themselves POWs. Phil Christie (Denis O'Hare), their leader, decides that he will lead the defense for himself and the rest, with the goal of a hung jury. He succeeds; despite McCoy's exhortations in his closing argument, the jury is deadlocked.
Tropes present in this episode
- A Fool for a Client: The entire New Sons of Liberty, including Phil Christie, are represented by Phil Christie himself.
- Courtroom Antics: The New Sons request that the US President and the leaders of the CIA and the NSA testify. Additionally, they object constantly during cross-examinations. Apparently, they manage to get at least to one juror.
- No Ending: The trial ends with a hung jury, a new trial will be scheduled, and there's no knowing how the case will actually end.
- Patched Together from the Headlines: The Chicago Seven case, the Panther 21 case, and the 1981 Brinks robbery.
- Right-Wing Militia Fanatic: The New Sons of Liberty. They explicitly deny the right of the U.S. government, they make a motion to dismiss on the grounds that they are POWs, etc.
