This clause contains references to gun violence .

Summary

Courtroom scenes and legal shows have inherent play and shameful plot twists , and the most unforgettable courtroom scenes in TV express all rise above their competition to stand up out in television account . The effective courtroom aspect do n’t have to take place in shows that wad with attorney and legal drama . However , those series usually have splendid examples because the writers are so focused on create naturalistic and captivating motor hotel scenes . Whilenot all courtroom scene are true to living , that does n’t take away from the hold court scenery have on television audiences .

TV show that incorporate courtroom scenes into their plots ordinarily juggle multiple stories and cases across a season .

Outside of boob tube , flick that get by with law of nature , like thebest courtroom drama of all time , focus solely on one pillowcase . TV shows that incorporate courtroom scenes into their plots unremarkably juggle multiple stories and cases across a time of year . Many unforgettable courtroom scenes are n’t just about the case or the clients , but about the primary characters of the show , and their character arcs are mirrored in the fundamental matter of the legal battle . This adds layers to the floor and betroth the audience in the fount ’s outcome .

Collage of characters from How to Get Away with Murder, Suits and Your Honor

The very unspoilt attorney shows and effectual play are the unity that go further than the adjective nature of the literary genre and take some major danger .

8Suits (2011 - 2019) - Mike Puts His Fate In The Hands Of The Jury

Season 5, Episode 15, “Tick Tock”

Cast

suit follows Mike Ross ( Patrick J. Adams ) , who , despite never attend natural law school , is able to habituate his photographic memory to become a lawyer . The legal dramatic play ran from 2011 to 2019 for a total of nine seasons and also starred Gabriel Macht , Meghan Markle , Sarah Rafferty , and Rick Hoffman .

Suits ' good courtroom sceneswere few and far between because , as high - powered corporate lawyers , the character on the show avoided going to trial run at all costs . Their swelled moves were made behind the scene but after many years of Mike ( Patrick J. Adams ) and Harvey ( Gabriel Macht ) defrauding the Bar Association by lie about Mike ’s effectual credential , it was time to pay the piper . Mike was bring to trial on the charges that he was practicing jurisprudence without a license , and throughoutSuitsseason 5 , he and Harvey threw everything they had into train for the test .

It ’s at this moment the audience project how much Mike has changed , and his decision that if he does get to practice law it will be in the service of others , not for the benefit of collective greed .

A black and white image of Jill Hennessy as Claire Kincaid in Law & Order over a color image of Briscoe, Kincaid, and McCoy together

However , in his closure contestation , Mike fuddle a spanner in their architectural plan and came clean , but in doing so , he get ahead over the jury and attest what an excellent attorney he had become . Though Mike does end up going to jail , that does n’t change how moving and vulnerable his speech is to the panel . It ’s at this moment the hearing see how much Mike has convert , and his decision that if he does get to drill practice of law it will be in the service of others , not for the benefit of corporate rapacity .

7Better Call Saul (2015 - 2022) - Jimmy Tricks The Witness

Season 5, Episode 4, “Namaste”

Better Call Saul follows minor - time attorney Jimmy McGill as he navigate the sound world to make ends meet . The series , place six years before his confrontation with Walter White , chronicles Jimmy ’s evolution into Saul Goodman , with notable fundamental interaction alongside fixer Mike Ehrmantraut .

Better Call Saulis the most consistently accurate of all the legal dramas on goggle box because the writers brought in real lawyers to look up on how the court vista play out . In " Namaste , " Jimmy ( Bob Odenkirk ) starts the scene like any other trial , but he use an incredible trick that fools not only the looker but the entire court . When the witnesser on the sales booth is asked to identifyJimmy ’s guest as the somebody who committed the crime , the looker taper to the client sit at Jimmy ’s board .

However , after this , Jimmy divulge that this man is n’t the defendant . The defendant is sitting in the back of the courtroom . To say that this is an improper method is an understatement , and in a real court of police force it might have acquire Jimmy in problem , but instead , a mistrial is announce . Though it is n’t a high - profile causa and the stakes are ultimately pretty low , it illustrates what a fantastic lawyer Jimmy is and how he ’s consistently underestimated throughout the show . Like any great court scene , it ’s innovation and the constituent of surprise that makes it stand out .

Blended image of James Spader in various movies and TV shows

6Law & Order (1990 - ) - Jack McCoy Bends The Rules

Season 16, Episode 22, “Invaders”

The beginning of the long - running franchise Law & Order is a criminal offense - play series produce by Dick Wolf and launched on NBC in 1990 . The series come after the day - to - day biography of detectives and effectual professionals in New York who are involved in apprehending and prosecuting dangerous criminal .

Though Borgia was n’t part of the DA ’s spot for long , she made a lasting impact onLaw & Order , and she ’s tragically killed while look into the vitrine because she was getting too close to the heart of a cabal .

In one ofSam Waterston ’s best episodes ofLaw & Order , Jack McCoy has to persecute the murderers who targeted a untried family and followthe trail of rottenness that direct to the disgraceful last of his partner , Alexandra Borgia ( Annie Parisse).Though Borgia was n’t part of the DA ’s part for long , she made a lasting impact onLaw & Order , and she ’s tragically shoot down while enquire the event because she was getting too close to the heart of a confederacy . As McCoy has already lost a acquaintance in the show , Claire Kincaid ( Jill Hennessy ) , he take the loss hard .

(Sam-Waterston-as-Executive-ADA-Jack-McCoy)-from-Law-&-Order-and-(Bob-Odenkirk-as-Jimmy-McGill)–from-Better-Call-Saul–and-(Gabriel-Macht-as-Harvey-Specter)-from-Suits

Image by Yailin Chacon

McCoy has never been the kind of lawyer who shy away from working around the law as he ’s guided by his moral compass over everything . However , he goes a step too far and is thrown off the case . This is an vivid moment as McCoy is about to put away the men who killed Borgia but is forced to leave the courtroom . Before this , an even more intense picture takes place when a composition of evidence he has can not be used because of its entrapment . These setting aregreat examples of when legal proceeding do n’t go how the lawyer wants them to .

Jill Hennessy ’s Claire Kincaid played a major role on Law & Order for a few season , and here ’s her electric shock exit from the series explained .

5The Good Wife (2009 - 2016) - The 5th Amendment

Season 2, Episode 1, “Taking Control”

After being a stay - at - home female parent for thirteen class , Alicia Florrick resume her constabulary vocation after her husband is incarcerate following a political degeneracy and sex activity scandal .

The Good Wifeis herald for its female - go dramatis personae with Julianna Margulies playing Alicia Florrick , a attorney who gets back her boundary and ambition after her hubby ruins their spousal relationship and disgraces their public image with a political malicious gossip . However , Alicia soon finds she love being a attorney and wants to put her career first for a modification . This is where much of the fundamental struggle of the show occur in . She quickly becomes embroiled in a love trigon between herself , her husband , and another lawyer she work with , Will Gardner ( Josh Charles ) .

Despite the personal dramatic play that keep the audience coming back for more , The Good Wifeis most memorable because of its well - crafted courtroom scenes and the legal jargoon the characters utilize throughout the episodes . In the premiere of season 2,there is a shameful break of etiquette in the courtroom when the jurist lambast Alicia ’s client for invoke the Fifth Amendment . Though it ’s highly unlikely that a judge would ever speak this path to a witness , Alicia lets him have it and protects her client ’s Constitutional right field .

Headshot Of Patrick J. Adams

Suits follows Mike Ross (Patrick J. Adams), who, despite never attending law school, is able to use his photographic memory to become a lawyer. The legal drama ran from 2011 to 2019 for a total of nine seasons and also starred Gabriel Macht, Meghan Markle, Sarah Rafferty, and Rick Hoffman.

4How To Get Away With Murder (2014 - 2020) - Annalise’s Closing Argument

Season 6, Episode 15, “Stay”

A new part of the Shonda Rhimes Shondaland production , How to Get Away With Murder is a law-breaking drama series created for ABC and asterisk Viola Davis . When constabulary prof Annalise Keating ’s ( Davis ) houseman become involved with a murder that shakes the university and firm , the group will notice themselves in an ever - spiral saga of lies , deception , and intrigue . The show ’s formatting focuses on slowly unearthing the truth behind murders , all while complicated clients and case arrive for the legal philosophy firm to handle .

Shonda Rhimes has an excellent reputation as a powerhouse who churns out gamey - character and captivating television , and thoughGrey ’s Anatomyis her most pop show to date , How To Get Away With Murderdeserves just as much realization . Viola Davis is uncomparable as Annalise Keating , a complex and magnificent defense attorneyembroiled in mysterious circumstances through her relationships with her guest , student , and spouse . Throughout the six seasons of the show , she sacrifice many impassioned speech to unlike panel , but none come close to the closure argument she gives in the serial stopping point , " detain . "

How To Get Away With Murderdoesn’t rationalise Annalise for her actions , but it set them in the context of a world that has never accept her for who she is , but at the end of the series she is finally ready to accept herself .

Headshot Of Sarah Rafferty

Not only is it the arrant end to her vitrine , but it parallels the journey of her grapheme on the show . She ’s champion herself and is ultimately come clean about who she is as a person and a lawyer to the jury and herself . How To Get Away With Murderdoesn’t excuse Annalise for her action , but it invest them in the context of a world that has never take her for who she is , but at the end of the series she is in conclusion quick to accept herself .

3Seinfeld (1989 - 1998) - Jerry, Elaine, George, & Kramer Go To Prison

Season 9, Episode 24, “The Finale”

Seinfeld stars Jerry Seinfeld as a stand - up comedian whose life in New York City is made even more chaotic by his far-out group of protagonist who join him in wrestling with life ’s most puzzling yet often trivial interrogation . Often described as " a show about nothing , " Seinfeld mines the humor in life ’s mundane situations like hold off in line , searching for a lose item , or the test and tribulations of dating . Centennial State - star is Julia Louis - Dreyfus as Jerry ’s ex - girl and current platonic pal , Elaine Benes ; Jason Alexander as George Costanza , Jerry ’s psychoneurotic hard - fate good friend ; and Michael Richards as Jerry ’s outlandish neighbor , Kramer .

The first thing that comes to idea when talking about unbelievable court scene and legal cases most likely is n’t the hit sitcomSeinfeld . However , the series finale cement itself as unlike anything else on TV by ending with all of its characters going to prison . Though some fan and critics felttheSeinfeldseries finale was a catastrophe , it ’s still widely talk about to this day , so at the very least , it was memorable . Whether or not it ’s good to go out with a factious ending or a live up to one is up for debate , butSeinfeldcertainly went with factious .

There are several court scenes throughout the installment and the two major 1 occur when the gang plead their case and when they get their sentencing . Like any other instalment ofSeinfeld , this in high spirits - wager situation is handled with bodily fluid and ambivalence , with most of the gang refusing to conceive they ’re actually in effectual trouble . Though these characters are far from complete , few audience penis thought they deserved to be in prison . However , it matches the tone ofSeinfeldfor them to go out on an extreme instance of the jinks they get themselves into .

Headshot Of Gabriel Macht

Season 4, Episode 17, “The Court Supreme”

Boston Legal is a legal comedy - drama series created by David E. Kelley and initially premier in 2004 . The series conform to the effort of the Crane , Poole & Schmidt constabulary business firm staff helmed by Denny Crane ( William Shatner ) and Alan Shore ( James Spader ) as the attorneys dabble into the legal gray area to take on cases deemed " unwinnable . "

Everything they ’ve cultivate for come to a head when Alan ( Spader ) present his instance in front of the Supreme Court as he appeals a wafture of the last penalty for his client .

Boston Legalis a compelling legal drama full of firm actors , and for this intellect , it deserves to be better remembered . The series shoot a line James Spader and William Shatner in two of their best use , as top lawyers in their battlefield who clash when it come to how best to handle their cases . Everything they ’ve work for come up to a headspring when Alan ( Spader ) presents his case in front of the Supreme Court as he appeal a wafture of the death penalization for his client . The stakes could n’t be higher , and Alan must prove he can do by the atmospheric pressure .

Headshot Of Meghan Markle

Though Alan conceive of himself as the best lawyer in township , even he has some trouble when it comes to the highest court in the land . Despite this , he manages to pull off a fantastic argumentation andthe indictment Alan makes against the policies of the Supreme Court are just as relevant today as they were when the sequence air out . The moving and lightning - firm language is awe-inspiring for its writing alone but is lift to a new stratum by Spader ’s fantastic carrying out .

Thanks to the player ’s full kitchen range , the best James Spader motion-picture show and shows are always compelling experiences , from Secretary to The Blacklist .

1The Good Wife (2009 - 2016) - Courtroom Shooting

Season 5, Episode 15, “Dramatics, Your Honor”

ThoughThe Good Wifehas already arrogate a blot on this inclination , it justify another because of how iconic and shatter this episode and court scene is . In ' dramatic art , Your pureness , " the dear character , Will Gardner , is fatally shot by his client , Jeffrey Grant ( Hunter Parish ) in the center of the courtroomin a kink that no one take in come . It was especially unbelievable because his death was kept under wraps by the team behindThe Good Wife , so it really came out of nowhere . alas , The Good Wifewas aTV show that never recovered from a graphic symbol ’s death .

Will was one of Alicia ’s basal love interests , and since many fans had been root for them since the beginning , the fact that their romance ended this way was withering . to boot , enactment of fierceness are usually kept out of the courtroom on television system and in veridical liveliness . However , The Good Wifeensured that Will ’s death would not go unnoticed and that audiences would never look at a courtroom the same direction when watch the show . A definitive verdict is one thing , but the destruction of someone ’s animation is very different .

Cast Placeholder Image

Better Call Saul follows small-time lawyer Jimmy McGill as he navigates the legal world to make ends meet. The series, set six years before his encounter with Walter White, chronicles Jimmy’s evolution into Saul Goodman, with notable interactions alongside fixer Mike Ehrmantraut.

Headshot Of Jonathan Banks In The 39th Annual PaleyFest LA: ‘Better Call Saul’ premiere

hEADSHOT oF Peter Gould

Headshot of George Dzundza

The beginning of the long-running franchise Law & Order is a crime-drama series created by Dick Wolf and launched on NBC in 1990. The series follows the day-to-day lives of detectives and legal professionals in New York who are involved in apprehending and prosecuting dangerous criminals.

Headshot Of Chris Noth

Headshot Of Dann Florek

Headshot Of Julianna Margulies

After being a stay-at-home mother for thirteen years, Alicia Florrick resumes her law career after her husband is imprisoned following a political corruption and sex scandal.

Headshot of Matt Czuchry

Headshot Of Archie Panjabi

Headshot Of Viola Davis In The Literacy Partners Evening of Readings & Gala Dinner at Pier Sixty

A new part of the Shonda Rhimes Shondaland productions, How to Get Away With Murder is a crime drama series created for ABC and starring Viola Davis. When law professor Annalise Keating’s (Davis) interns become involved with a murder that shakes the university and firm, the group will find themselves in an ever-spiraling saga of lies, deceit, and intrigue. The show’s format focuses on slowly unearthing the truth behind murders, all while complicated clients and cases arrive for the law firm to handle.

Headshot Of Aja Naomi King

Headshot Of Billy Brown

Headshot Of Jack Falahee

Headshot Of Jerry Seinfeld In The 2024 Met Gala

Seinfeld stars Jerry Seinfeld as a stand-up comedian whose life in New York City is made even more chaotic by his quirky group of friends who join him in wrestling with life’s most perplexing yet often trivial questions. Often described as “a show about nothing,” Seinfeld mines the humor in life’s mundane situations like waiting in line, searching for a lost item, or the trials and tribulations of dating. Co-starring is Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Jerry’s ex-girlfriend and current platonic pal, Elaine Benes; Jason Alexander as George Costanza, Jerry’s neurotic hard-luck best friend; and Michael Richards as Jerry’s eccentric neighbor, Kramer.

Headshot Of Julia Louis-Dreyfus In The 28th Annual Webby Awards

Headshot Of Jason Alexander In The Project Angel Food Lead with Love Five Year Anniversary Special

Headshot Of James Spader In The NBC Network’s 2015-16

Boston Legal is a legal comedy-drama series created by David E. Kelley and initially premiered in 2004. The series follows the exploits of the Crane, Poole & Schmidt law firm staff helmed by Denny Crane (William Shatner) and Alan Shore (James Spader) as the attorneys dabble into the legal gray area to take on cases deemed “unwinnable."

Headshot Of Monica Potter

Headshot Of Rhona Mitra

Headshot Of Lake Bell