L.A. Law (TV Series)

Happy Trails (1990)

Jordan Baker: ADA Marcia Fusco

Quotes 

• ADA Marcia Fusco : Members of the Jury, I apologize for the disruption. I'm not going take up any more of your time, I think that justice will best be served if we get right to the evidence. Evidence that will clearly demonstrate that the defendant Officer Brian Chisholm gunned down a black teenager in cold blood. Evidence that will demonstrate beyond a reasonable doubt... that Brian Chisholm is a murderer.

  [Crowds murmuring] 

  ADA Marcia Fusco : Thank you.

  [Ms. Fusco returns to her seat] 

  Judge Walter Stone : Mr. Kuzak?

  [Someone's coughing] 

  Judge Walter Stone : Mr. Kuzak?

  Michael Kuzak : I'm sorry.

  [Mr. Kuzak clears his throat, and gets up while addressing an opening statement] 

  Michael Kuzak : Serving justice, that what she said we were here for, right? But the only problem with that is... it's premised on the assumption that we have impartial jurors and - and a fair judge. Now I have my doubts about you jurors, I'll be honest with you. But have no doubts at all about that big chicken bastard sitting up there wearing the robe.

  Judge Walter Stone : Mr. Kuzak, you are in contempt! Bailiff! Take Me. Kuzak into custody. Now!

  Michael Kuzak : This man cares nothing about justice. All he cares about is getting reelected. Staying on Attorney Halloway's good side so he doesn't get scathed in the press.

  [Kuzak was caught by the bailiff] 

  Michael Kuzak : You got to call a mistrial now, Your Honor. You've got no choice now.

  Judge Walter Stone : Take him away.

  [as he's out of the door] 

  Michael Kuzak : Hey, I haven't finished my opening statement.

• Judge Walter Stone : Members of the Jury, you are not to consider counsel's breakdown, or in any way hold it against the defendant. Mr. Kuzak was simply attempting to get this trial called off for reasons which have nothing to do with the issue before you. Mr. Rollins, please take over.

  Jonathan Rollins : Excuse me?

  ADA Marcia Fusco : Your Honor, under the circumstances, I...

  Judge Walter Stone : I will not reward Mr. Kuzak's outburst by letting him attain his objective. This trial will go forward. Mr. Rollins, please take over where Mr. Kuzak left off.

  Jonathan Rollins : You can't be...

  Judge Walter Stone : I said take up where he left off.

  Jonathan Rollins : Okay. Um...

  [And turned to Brian Chisholm sitting quietly] 

  Jonathan Rollins : Um, I believe he left off, calling you a big chicken bastard worried about reelection. He left out some things.

  Judge Walter Stone : You're in contempt, too. Bailiff! Take Mr. Rollins into custody.

  Jonathan Rollins : He forgot to call you stupid. He forgot to ask who you bribed to get that robe.

  Judge Walter Stone : Get him out.

  Jonathan Rollins : [Caught by the bailiff. Protesting]  Objection! We... Get your hands off me! I want my objection on the record! This is highly prejudicial to us!

  [Mr. Rollins stormed out of the courtroom] 

  Judge Walter Stone : Members of the Jury, I'm sorry. I have no other choice, but to suspend these proceedings and to declare a mistrial.

  Derron Holloway : You're giving them what they want!

  Judge Walter Stone : Shut up, Mr. Holloway. I have no choice. The jury is dismissed. We're done.

  [Mr. Holloway sitting down. Crowds murmuring and complaining] 

• Michael Kuzak : Well, I moved we skip the trial and proceed immediately to sentencing.

  Judge Walter Stone : Don't get smart with me.

  Michael Kuzak : That juror was not only predisposed to see a race thing here, he took a potshot at me.

  Judge Walter Stone : Maybe you provoked him.

  [Michael sighed, looked at Jonathan. Jonathan shrugged] 

  Michael Kuzak : Your Honor, I move that you recuse yourself from this case.

  ADA Marcia Fusco : Opposed.

  Judge Walter Stone : On what grounds?

  Michael Kuzak : On the grounds that you like Rogoff are too politically scared to do the job here.

  Judge Walter Stone : If I was scared, I would find a way to get off this case. I would dodge this thing like an oncoming train, which is exactly what it is. But this judge doesn't delay justice simply because the victims are black. And this judge doesn't all out favors and continuances the defendants simply because they happen to be police officers.

  Michael Kuzak : And this judge because the boundaries of his district were changed suddenly can't be reelected unless he captures at least 50% of the black vote.

  Judge Walter Stone : Your motion is denied.

  Michael Kuzak : I want this on the record.

  Judge Walter Stone : It's on the record. Now let's get back in there. This trial's going forward.

• [to begin to questioning the members of the jury during a pretrial] 

  Michael Kuzak : And how long have you been lived in Inglewood, Mr. Lewis?

  Rudy Lewis : About 42 years.

  Michael Kuzak : Have you any problem with the police?

  Rudy Lewis : None that I can recall.

  Michael Kuzak : And do you believe that white policeman applied one set of rules to white people and, uh, different set to blacks.

  Rudy Lewis : Not in my experience.

  Michael Kuzak : Thank you. Defense accept this man.

  ADA Marcia Fusco : Have you ever been the victim of a crime, Mr. Lewis?

  Rudy Lewis : My house was robbed once.

  ADA Marcia Fusco : Police catch you did it?

  Rudy Lewis : Yes.

  ADA Marcia Fusco : You recall his race?

  Rudy Lewis : He was a black kid.

  ADA Marcia Fusco : The prosecution ask that Mr. Lewis be excused for cause.

  Michael Kuzak : Objection. There's no showing for cause.

  ADA Marcia Fusco : I believe that Mr. Lewis' condition to believe that blacks are more likely guilty when charge of a crime.

  Michael Kuzak : Where'd you get that?

  Judge Walter Stone : The jurors discharge for cause.

  [Judge Stone puts his glasses back on. Ms. Fusco takes a seat and moving along to question the next juror] 

• [the next juror] 

  ADA Marcia Fusco : Will the fact that he's a police officer make you more inclined to believed he's innocent?

  Arthur Pryor : No. All kinds of people commit crimes. Policeman, too.

  ADA Marcia Fusco : Thank you, Mr. Pryor. The people accept this juror.

  Michael Kuzak : Have you ever been arrested, Mr. Pryor?

  Arthur Pryor : I resent that.

  Michael Kuzak : I take it, you've never been arrested then?

  Arthur Pryor : That's right.

  Michael Kuzak : Thank you.

  Arthur Pryor : You ask white jurors that question?

  Michael Kuzak : Your Honor, the defense ask that Mr. Pryor be excused for cause.

  ADA Marcia Fusco : No showing up cause, Your Honor.

  Judge Walter Stone : I see no reason this jurors should be excused.

  Michael Kuzak : The defense exercises it's last peremptory challenge, it has to be heard in chambers, Your Honor.

  Judge Walter Stone : Let's go.

• [And now Michael talks with D.A. Marcia Fusco] 

  Michael Kuzak : You could live with this?

  ADA Marcia Fusco : Hey, you think I like it? I get everybody breathing down my back for conviction while I barely have any evidence. Was hoping it'll trick with work.

  Brian Chisolm : Mr. Kuzak. Mr. Kuzak, what the hell is going? God, I thought you said this will work out.

  Michael Kuzak : Well, I was wrong, Brian, and quite honestly right now, I don't know what to tell you.

  [sighed] 

• ADA Marcia Fusco : Officer Chisholm claims that he was fired upon first, by two unknown drug dealers. There's no evidence to suggest that these two drug dealers even exist. No stray bullets were ever found. And though Mr. Chisholm never took a lie detector test.

  Michael Kuzak : Objection.

  Judge Walter Stone : Ms. Fusco, you know better than that. Members of the Jury, whether or not the accused took a polygraph test is have no relevance and you have to give that no consideration.

  Michael Kuzak : Move for a mistrial.

  Judge Walter Stone : Approach.

  [Mr. Kuzak and Ms. Fusco approached the sidebar of Judge Walter Stone. Brian has a whispering talk with Jonathan] 

  Judge Walter Stone : You're not getting a mistrial.

  Michael Kuzak : For God's sake, Your Honor.

  Judge Walter Stone : She didn't say he failed it.

  Michael Kuzak : She implied that he refused to take it.

  Judge Walter Stone : She did no such thing. She just said he didn't take it. I see no prejudice.

  Michael Kuzak : But this is outrageous!

  Judge Walter Stone : Keep your voice down.

  Michael Kuzak : You let Holloway grandstand. You let him bias jurors and now with an obvious prejudicial statement by the District Attorney...

  Judge Walter Stone : Your motion is denied. It's all on the record, take it up on appeal but I'm not stopping this trial. Now step back, both of you.

  Michael Kuzak : This is a bag job.

  Judge Walter Stone : [Sotto rage]  Step back.