Ep 12. Cop's Story

Equal Justice was a legal drama television series that aired from 1990-1991. The show was centered around a group of young lawyers who worked for the New York City Public Defender's Office. Each episode followed the team as they tackled a different case, fighting for justice and exposing the flaws within the criminal justice system.

Season 1, Episode 12 was titled "Cop's Story" and it aired on February 6, 1991. The episode focused on the character Deputy District Attorney Peter Bauer, who had been one of the main antagonists in previous episodes. Bauer had a reputation for being ruthless and determined to put away criminals at any cost.

In this episode, Bauer found himself on the other side of the law when he was accused of assault while off-duty. The victim was a young African-American man who claimed that Bauer had stopped him on the street and brutally beaten him. The incident had been caught on tape by a bystander, and the footage quickly went viral. The public was outraged, and there were calls for Bauer to be held accountable for his actions.

Bauer maintained his innocence, insisting that he had merely been attempting to make an arrest and that the use of force had been justified. The Public Defender's Office took on the case, assigning it to one of their top attorneys, Jo Ann Harris. Harris was skeptical of Bauer's claims and determined to get to the truth of what had happened that night.

As Harris began to investigate the case, she discovered that there were inconsistencies in Bauer's story. Witnesses who had seen the altercation gave conflicting accounts of what had happened, and there were discrepancies between Bauer's initial police report and the version of events he gave in court. Harris also found evidence that suggested that Bauer had a history of using excessive force in his work as a prosecutor.

Despite these revelations, Bauer remained steadfast in his belief that he had done nothing wrong. He argued that he had been forced to act the way he did due to the dangerous nature of the neighborhood he was patrolling. Harris continued to press him, however, pointing out that the victim had not posed any immediate threat and that Bauer's actions went far beyond what was necessary to make an arrest.

As the trial dragged on, tensions between Bauer and Harris continued to escalate. Bauer became increasingly desperate to prove his innocence, while Harris grew more determined to get justice for the victim. The case came to a head in a dramatic courtroom showdown, where Harris presented the evidence she had gathered and forced Bauer to confront the truth about his actions.

Overall, "Cop's Story" was a gripping episode that explored the complex issues related to police brutality and the use of excessive force by those in positions of power. The writers did an excellent job of balancing the perspectives of both the victim and the accused, and the performances by the cast were top-notch. The episode's conclusion was both satisfying and thought-provoking, leaving viewers with plenty to ponder about the nature of justice and accountability in modern society.