Ep 1. Pilot

Equal Justice is a legal drama television series that premiered on ABC in 1990 and ran for three seasons. The show followed the cases and personal lives of a group of public defenders working in Washington, D.C.

In the pilot episode, we are introduced to each of the main characters and their individual struggles, both professionally and personally. The episode begins with the appointment of a new chief of the public defender's office, Arthur Gold, played by Barry Miller. Gold is a straight-laced, by-the-book attorney, who clashes with the more unorthodox methods of his new team.

The main characters include: the passionate social justice warrior, Sarah Weddington, played by Jane Kaczmarek; the tough-talking street-smart attorney, Jesse Jackson, played by Joe Morton; the idealistic and naive recent law school graduate, JoAnn Plotkin, played by Debrah Farentino; and the stoic and intimidating investigator, Earl Saldivar, played by Jon Tenney.

The episode revolves around their first case together, representing a young African-American man, Rodney Taylor, who has been charged with murder. The team is determined to prove Rodney's innocence and obtain a fair trial for him, despite the overwhelming evidence against him and a biased judge.

Throughout the episode, we see the different approaches that each character uses in order to fight for their client. Jesse, who has a deep connection to the black community, uses his street smarts and charisma to gather information and support for Rodney's case. Sarah, a brilliant legal mind, uses her knowledge of the law to try to find holes in the prosecution's case. JoAnn, new to the office and the legal world, struggles to find her footing but is determined to help Rodney in any way she can. Earl, the team's investigator, uses his intimidating presence and connections in the criminal underground to gather crucial evidence.

As the case progresses, tensions rise not only between the team and the prosecution, but also within the team itself. Gold's strict adherence to the rules puts him at odds with the tactics used by the rest of the team, causing a rift and creating tension that will continue throughout the season.

The episode ends on a cliffhanger, as the team learns new evidence that could exonerate Rodney, but they must act fast to use it before it's too late.

Overall, the pilot episode of Equal Justice sets up the main characters and the dynamics of their team, while also presenting a compelling legal case full of twists and turns. The episode sets the tone for the series as a thought-provoking and socially relevant legal drama, highlighting the important work of public defenders and the challenges they face in the criminal justice system.