Law & Order (TV Series)

I.D. (1996)

Gerry Bamman: Defense Attorney Stan Gillum

Quotes 

• Stan Gillum : The police seized the evidence in question when they entered William Dunbar's apartment with an out-of-state arrest warrant.

  Jack McCoy : That had been properly lodged with a clerk of this court.

  Stan Gillum : At most, they had the right to ascertain whether or not William Dunbar was present. They had no right to search beyond that.

  Jack McCoy : One of the detectives opened a closet door. He saw the gun.

  Stan Gillum : On a shelf, two feet over his head.

  Judge Nathan Marks : The issue here is the plain-view exception?

  Jack McCoy : It is, your honor.

  Judge Nathan Marks : So we're going diagrams, and room layouts, and sight lines - what was where, who was standing on top of what.

  Stan Gillum : I can have 'em by tomorrow.

  Judge Nathan Marks : [pointing to McCoy]  But he'll come in with different diagrams, and we'll all sit around with rulers, protractors... I've got a better idea. Let's go to the apartment.

  Stan Gillum : ...All of us?

  Judge Nathan Marks : Yes. We'll have a picnic.

• Jack McCoy : This issue was decided! It was your own ruling!

  Stan Gillum : Yeah - he ruled the search was illegal.

  Jack McCoy : And that the evidence was nevertheless admissible against Miss Sullivan.

  Stan Gillum : Because she had no standing! That was before we knew she was married to William Dunbar. A wife certainly has an expectation of privacy in an apartment she shares with her husband.

  A.D.A. Jamie Ross : You had an opportunity to bring that fact to the court's attention then.

  Stan Gillum : Not without incriminating my client - which I certainly am not obliged to do.

  Judge Nathan Marks : Anything else, Miss Ross? Mr. McCoy? Fine. Objection sustained. There'll be no mention of anything found in that apartment. By the way, Mr. McCoy - I never had a chance to congratulate you on your victory in appellate court.

• Stan Gillum : I move for a dismissal. If the people don't even know who killed whom, I'd say reasonable doubt is manifest.

  Jack McCoy : On the contrary. The evidence against the defendant is even stronger now, if you will allow us to reopen the case.

  Judge Nathan Marks : It would be stronger - is that why you're trying to turn my courtroom into a hall of mirrors?

  Jack McCoy : I want to put the truth before the jury.

  Judge Nathan Marks : What you can have is a mistrial.

  Jack McCoy : Fine. With leave to re-present.

  Stan Gillum : Excuse me - jeopardy has attached. A defendant can't be re-tried unless there is a manifest necessity for a mistrial. The only necessity here is Mr. McCoy's ignorance of the facts of his own case.

  Jack McCoy : We were all ignorant of the facts, because the defendant withheld them!

  Stan Gillum : She is under no obligation to incriminate herself.

  Jack McCoy : By telling us her name?

  Stan Gillum : Which would have incriminated her - you just said it does.

  Judge Nathan Marks : You and your free-spirited associates have not done your homework, Mr. McCoy. You've wasted all of our time.

  Jack McCoy : Your honor...

  Judge Nathan Marks : Your motion is granted - I'm declaring a mistrial. Mr. Gillum's motion is granted also; the murder charge is dismissed.