Law & Order (TV Series)

Baby, It's You (1997)

Dan Hedaya: Defense Attorney Leslie Drake

Quotes 

• Jack McCoy : What are your clients afraid of, Mr. Drake?

  Defense Attorney Leslie Drake : What are they afraid of? They're afraid of a police department that's got more leaks in it than the Exxon Valdez.

• Defense Attorney Leslie Drake : This does not mean we're setting ourselves up as private investigators. Every lead that comes in, we forward to the police.

  A.D.A. Jamie Ross : You're offering a $250,000 reward. Do you have any idea how many false leads that will attract?

  Defense Attorney Leslie Drake : If it attracts one good lead, my clients feel it's money very well spent.

  Jack McCoy : It's a colossal waste of police time, Mr. Drake. I warned you about interfering with our investigation.

  Defense Attorney Leslie Drake : What investigation? Huh? I offered the police the services of a bona fide FBI manhunter, and what do they do? They dismiss his report, they ignore his recommendation, and they practically laugh in the man's face!

  Jack McCoy : They were a lot kinder than I would've been. If I see any more of this nonsense from you, I'll have the ethics committee sanction you for professional misconduct.

  Defense Attorney Leslie Drake : Ah, I see-- You're gonna come after the Janaways' counselor while their daughter's murderer is running around loose in the street? I don't think that's going to look very good!

  Jack McCoy : Not as bad as what you've been doing. Leaking evidence, publishing suspect profiles. It looks like your clients are trying to poison the jury pool. They're better suspects than ever.

  Defense Attorney Leslie Drake : How dare you say anything like that? You know something? You've got a lot of nerve. And let me tell you something. You take one baby step towards my clients and I'm coming after you for slander and malicious prosecution.

  Jack McCoy : We prosecute who we see fit when we see fit. You better not get in the way.

  Defense Attorney Leslie Drake : I'm gonna run this ad from Monday through Sunday for two weeks, and every lead that comes in, I'm gonna forward to the police department, and I expect them to follow up on each one of them!

  Jack McCoy : You don't dictate anything to us! You screw up this investigation, I'll see you get your license pulled! The Janaways will be your last clients in the state of New York!

• Defense Attorney Leslie Drake : Your Honor, my clients are not defendants, and they are not named in any indictment that I am aware of, therefore I or they can speak to the press whenever we choose to.

  Jack McCoy : Your Honor, I've initiated a grand jury proceeding. I am now serving Mr. and Mrs. Janaway with subpoenas to appear before the grand jury. Miss Ross.

  [Jamie presents subpoenas to judge] 

  Jack McCoy : I ask Your Honor to order Mr. and Mrs. Janaway and their attorney not to speak about this case to anyone.

  Defense Attorney Leslie Drake : This is absurd. This has nothing to do with my clients' testimony, and everything to do with shutting them up!

  Jack McCoy : These subpoenas are valid on their face. Why they were issued is not up for discussion.

  Defense Attorney Leslie Drake : This is an abuse of his office!

  Jack McCoy : If Mr. Drake wants to quash, he has 30 days to move. Until then, Your Honor has the authority to order all parties and/or witnesses to remain silent, and to cite anyone who violates your order for criminal contempt.

  Judge Barry McLellan : Mr. Drake, once your clients have been subpoenaed, it's all done.

  Defense Attorney Leslie Drake : Your Honor, in all due deference, any order of this kind is tantamount to an unconstitutional gag order, and I intend to appeal!

  Judge Barry McLellan : Appeal all you want. Now, I'm issuing the order, and I strongly advise you and your clients to stay off the 6:00 news.

  Jack McCoy : Your Honor, Mr. Drake's clients have also posted a $250,000 reward.

  Judge Barry McLellan : Well, I'm ordering that withdrawn right now.

• Defense Attorney Leslie Drake : Uh, Mr. Law has studied the case and he's prepared a profile of the suspect.

  Lt. Anita Van Buren : Ah, great. Leave it at the front desk. Thank you very much, and have a good day.

  Defense Attorney Leslie Drake : Uh, excuse me, ma'am. I have a letter from the Mayor's Office directing you to attend to this matter right away.

• John Law : The offender has a job that affords him mobility and unsupervised time. He's single, lower-middle-class, lives alone or with a domineering female. Now, this is the most important point.

  Lt. Anita Van Buren : [sarcastically]  Good.

  John Law : The offender was known to the victim. The victim's silence was insured by a credible threat to the victim, a member of the family or favorite pet. Now, investigative strategies. I suggest deep background checks on former nannies, housekeepers...

  Lt. Anita Van Buren : [interrupts]  My detectives are already on that.

  John Law : I suggest checking their boyfriends and male relatives. I also suggest releasing a statement that you are close to identifying the offender. This strategy has proved successful...

  Lt. Anita Van Buren : Why don't we just let Mr. Drake leak it to the media?

  Defense Attorney Leslie Drake : I resent that.

  Lt. Anita Van Buren : I'm sure you do. Who paid for all this?

  Defense Attorney Leslie Drake : My clients paid for this.

  Lt. Anita Van Buren : Well, does Mr. Law know that your clients haven't been ruled out as suspects?

  John Law : I've ruled them out. 100%.

  Lt. Anita Van Buren : Well, thank you for coming.

  [Drake and Law leave, Van Buren tosses the "profile" in her wastebasket] 

• Defense Attorney Leslie Drake : [the Janaway's attorney brings in a profiler to hopefully get the NYPD off the trail of the Janaways as possible suspects]  I'd like you to meet Mr. John Law from Los Angeles. He's formerly with the FBI's Behavioral Science Unit. He's a profiler.

  Lt. Anita Van Buren : John Law? That'd be your real name?