Law & Order (TV Series)

House Counsel (1995)

Sam Waterston: Executive ADA Jack McCoy

Photos 

Quotes 

• Adam Schiff : What is this, Bernie's Bargain Basement? Today's special, cop to four murders, get only five years.

  Jack McCoy : When I gave Furini immunity, I had no idea.

  Adam Schiff : No idea, because the blood was rushing downstream from your head and settling somewhere south of the border.

• ADA Jack McCoy : Defense attorneys distort the facts. They twist evidence. They will not only go to the mat for their clients, they will take that mat and toss it out the window as far as they can. They are not bound by the truth. They are bound to obfuscate it if it serves to get their clients acquitted. And they should be commended for it, and it is what makes the system work.

• A.D.A. Claire Kincaid : He blindsided a half-witted judge on behalf of the head of a mob family. You're acting like it was some kind of noble cause.

  Jack McCoy : It's part of the game.

  A.D.A. Claire Kincaid : Excuse me? Last I looked, it was about justice.

  Jack McCoy : That's merely a by-product. Boy Scouts seek it, effective prosecutors do their best to avoid thinking about it.

  A.D.A. Claire Kincaid : And what do they think about?

  Jack McCoy : Winning, period.

• A.D.A. Claire Kincaid : [middle of show]  I'm sorry, but I don't put in fifteen hours a day just so I can flex my muscles.

  ADA Jack McCoy : Well, you'd better start, Claire, or you'll wind up talking to yourself in elevators.

  ADA Jack McCoy : [to Claire at end of show, after convicting his former friend]  You'd better take the next elevator. I wouldn't be very good company.

• Mark Paul Kopell : [switches off a tape recorder]  That last voice: it's mine.

  ADA Jack McCoy : Because you say it is?

  Mark Paul Kopell : [surprised]  No, because Dr Peter Frank of M.I.T says it is, as he swears to in this affidavit signed following electronic voice analysis. As Mr Dosso is my longstanding client, this entire conversation is privileged and therefore inadmissible.

  A.D.A. Claire Kincaid : The first voice on that tape wasn't yours. Privilege is broken when a third party is present.

  Mark Paul Kopell : Unless the third party is also a client. The voice Ms Kincaid refers to is that of Al Gennaro whom I have successfully represented several times over the years.

  ADA Jack McCoy : The discussion of a criminal enterprise is not privileged, Your Honor.

  Judge Carol Bonelli : That's correct, if it's an ongoing or future enterprise. Unfortunately, it appears the defendant was discussing past crimes. I'm going to have to exclude the tape.

  [to Paul] 

  Judge Carol Bonelli : Make your motion, Mr Kopell.

  Mark Paul Kopell : [looks at Jack and Claire]  As there is no other evidence against my client? Huh. I move for a dismissal.

  ADA Jack McCoy : I object, Your Honor.

  Judge Carol Bonelli : So do I, but I have no choice.