NYPD Blue - Janice, Let Me Steer !

[@j-manmarkus7591]

"We're all gonna die. It doesn't mean we have to camp out in graveyards " Brilliant!

[@LBF522]

I know we were supposed to dislike him but I liked that he represented his clients well.

[@ruscopcoltrain]

The show wanted us to dislike him because it painted pretty much all defense attorneys as low-life, morally deficient people who only wanted to get rich from getting criminals off regardless of who else might get hurt in the future. But here, he displays two essential parts of criminal defense: 1) Arguing his client’s case that they’re innocent of what they’ve been charged with. There was a case to be made that Janice acted in self-defense and she deserved to have that case argued. 2) Ensuring that if their client IS guilty, that they are found guilty of the proper charge, not some over-charged indictment from a prosecutor trying to make a name for themselves. So I don’t remember if Janice was charged with first degree murder, but if so that requires premeditation, which she did not do. Maybe she is guilty, but only of second degree murder. It’s his job to argue her case for that, too. Defense attorneys are an essential and good part of our justice system, contrary to what this show would have us believe most of the time. But at least this episode shows how much cops’ opinion of them changes when it’s one of their friends that’s facing charges instead of someone they view as a scumbag.

[@LBF522]

@@ruscopcoltrain Thanks for the response. Love your analysis.

[@thomasbriody3012]

Sinclair is a fascinating character. The criminal justice system can only function properly if the accused has someone to speak for the defense. It’s not black and white. Part of the job is exposing the gray. This scene does a great job showing that. Well written. Well acted.

[@justanotherdrunk]

Thanks for the quality comment!

[@benburra6655]

Daniel Benzali was great in this series! Portrayed the ultimate defense attorney in our adversarial justice system. Definitely the guy you’d want defending you.

[@attiepollard7847]

Very interesting the scumbags he defends but you need his help to defend one of your officers.

[@briandavidson1946]

Big time

[@AZIONG651]

Hate Sinclair as a person, but I will respect his skills as an attorney. He's a damn good one.

[@MoneyMakingMitchNY]

Thankfully Bochco gave Daniel Benzali "murder one" another fascinating show with only one season from this marvelous actor.

[@LordZontar]

Yeah he was great in that show.

[@markemerson8399]

Fantastic clip! The (evil) guy seemingly wants her to get through this in the best way possible. She wants to exorcise her demons (and die on a cross). What a great contrast.

[@studinthemaking]

Love how her hair still look fabulous after being on rickers island.

[@84sp84]

The writing and the acting was so good. One of the finest shows ever produced.

[@onesixfive]

Hate this guy so bad and he was on the wrong side of many issues throughout the course of the show. That being said, if I was facing a double murder charge, yeah, I’d let him steer

[@halo-cn3ku]

You took the words right out of my mouth dude

[@BobbyTucker]

There are many who share your sentiments, myself included.

[@Pricelesspassion]

Damn right

[@macleod1592]

Sinclair is my favorite recurring character on this show. He steals every scene he's in.

[@clee3133]

Brilliant writing, brilliant acting. Like the subtlety of Sinclaire sitting down first without asking Janice to take a seat. Down to business, and knowing her mindset, his actions matching it.

[@LordZontar]

Much as you might hate the Creepy Bald Guy, he knows his stuff in the courtroom and he's the guy you want defending you in a double murder trial.

[@LBF522]

I wished they had kept her on the show longer.

[@clee3133]

Unfortunately once Kelly was gone there wasn't much attaching her to the plotlines.

[@LBF522]

@@clee3133 Oh OK. Thanks.

[@jefffromjersey52]

That is a REALLY GOOD LAWYER ..." Let an Honest JURY of 12 decide" ... being emotional, and feeling guilt is not a way to go to Prison .. save that for your PRIEST at confession time , NOT a Courtroom.. ..

[@alexseiler7788]

First time I haven’t dislikes sinclair

[@scottrozzi1780]

Fantastic actor without a doubt this defense attorney

[@scottsears5545]

Lawyer in this scene is a superb actor

[@bredrew1990]

When you realize that James Sinclair became a thorn at the 15th's side for years to come.

[@attiepollard7847]

That's why if you are the state you have gas to make sure that all your facts and evidence are right so guys like Sinclair will not win

[@benburra6655]

Ben Ali has been absolutely brilliant in every role he has ever played. But as James Sinclair…he took it to another level. You want to hate…but cannot. He IS the man you want defending you and represents the adversarial nature of out legal system perfectly. I have been in that box giving expert witnesses testimony a few times. One that really stands out…I remember preparing the evening prior to my testimony with 3 of the 4 attorneys representing their client. To illustrate what I may be up against…they played the tapes of Sinclair grilling Andy. The first was when he slashed the tires to gain access to a trunk where Sinclair ate him for lunch…the second was the episode where Sylvia got shot at Delores’s murder trial. Lesson learned! Love your channel and loved this series! It’s more relevant today than it ever was originally. Thx

[@TheStuport]

Lawyers in general get a bad rap. Defense Lawyers in particular. My perception of Defense Lawyers is they play the game only to get paid the big bucks. Yes, there are a small percentage of accused people who really are innocent and their Lawyers Defend them successfully. For the most part, Defense Lawyers mock The Law and twist it to their advantage. Just my take and many will disagree with me and I'm fine with that. In this particular scene, Mr. Sinclair does "The Justice System" proud. John Kelly knows this too.

[@juanmonge8]

His delivery is similar to John Kelly’s.

[@markmed9091]

Wouldn’t we all want a “ Sinclair “ representing us if our butts were in a sling ?

[@jolly7041]

I'm not Perry Mason,but if she hung out with the wrong crowd and didn't know that they were Mafia and was fearing for her life when she shot 2 ppl,then she should plead not guilty and fight this murder charge.

[@seyley2901]

Those classic business cases of that period will never make a return. The world will be a sadder for it....

[@toddsmitts]

For a moment, he sounds more like Ted Hoffman than James Sinclair. I wonder if it was this scene that led to Daniel Benzali being cast as the former.

[@jamallnu1365]

My man.

[@Tulane_Gargoyle]

Please post the scene with Sinclair and Kelly.

[@YD-uq5fi]

Sinclair could get anyone out of anything.

[@joen0411]

He steered her into thinking she’s not as guilty as she thinks she is. He does the same thing with all his clients who are far worse than her and think they are caught and can’t get out. He doesn’t do it for the system or any other honorable reason. He does it for the billable hours or in this case the press he will get that later justifies his billable hours to those who can afford it.

[@jefffromjersey52]

But in THIS particular case he is RIGHT .. She did NOT Pre meditate the Murders . big difference ... People who PLOT to kill their Business Partner or Wife , or whoever .THEY Deserve that Charge ..

[@joen0411]

@@jefffromjersey52 she got in that car knowing how things might end. Don’t get me wrong, I think she should walk free. But that lawyer doesn’t care about any of the points he brought up or if she did the right or wrong thing. He only cares about getting a murder free or the lightest sentence possible. He’d do the same thing for a serial killer and sleep like a baby every night.

[@mcgurkryans]

Great actor… too bad he couldn’t align on his fecal extraction schedule with the executive producer to avoid getting fired.

[@YD-uq5fi]

I never understood why he couldn't just wake up earlier, and/or eat more vegetables. To lose a starring role on a prime time show just for that.

[@stevescabin5441]

what winds up happening to her?

[@jefffromjersey52]

If you appeal to January ( the uploader) he will post it tomorrow or as soon as he can .. he's been pretty good about it .. The guy. or gal, I actually dont know which , is a REAL Fan of the show ..

[@justanotherdrunk]

Stay tuned Season 2 starts December 1st!

[@johnargus9081]

She got off.

[@pjg19751]

She was sentenced to 2 years in prison....with work release in 6 months.

[@specialk9424]

He's still a hairless river rat.

[@dexadrinepancake]

Matt Lucas' dad.