100 Centre Street

The media harasses Judge Joe Rifkind and a higher judge for the shooting of a rookie police officer who was killed by a young criminal the judge set free. To make amends, Judge Rifkind pays a visit to the father of the rookie police officer who also happens to be one of his former police partners. Assistant DA Bobby Esposito's brother, Frank, is given another chance to stop using drugs, but when he doesn't show up for his flight to the rehabilitation centre, Bobby assumes he's been deceived by Frank again. Meanwhile, Bobby and Cynthia Bennington's relationship heats up despite the one secret Bobby can't bring himself to tell her.

An ambitious new Assistant D.A., Jeremiah ""J.J."" Jellinek, arrives at 100 Centre St. and immediately starts jockeying for a position on a new task force, run by acting D.A. Gil Byrnes, that is going after the construction industry for its ties to the mob. Cynthia and Bobby set up their non-profit legal aid business, People's Defence, in Washington Heights and land their first client, Rudolfo, a 17-year-old accused of brutally beating a teacher. Judge Attalah Sims' last case of the night is a catatonic young woman who goes by the name Rebecca Rifkind, who turns out to have some connection to Judge Rifkind's past.