The Marcia Hooper Murder Trial (Part 5 of 5)

Episodes: Episode 3x05 [Whose God Is It Anyway?]
Client: Scott Little
Case: The client was accused of murdering Judge Marcia Hooper.
CP&S Representation: Jeffrey Coho, Denise Bauer, Claire Simms
Opposing Counsel: A.D.A. Jonathan Winant
Presiding: Judge Harvey Cooper
Witnesses: Judge Brian Hooper, Dr. Zachary Simon, Lincoln Meyer, Barbara Little, Michael Schiller, Detective Frank Richmond
Result: The jury found the defendant to be not guilty.
Notes: Events in this episode:

• Jeffrey Coho cross-examined Michael Schiller and suggested that he had made the outrageous allegations about Scott simply to hurt his ex-wife. Schiller maintained his testimony that Scott was "sick" and that Barbara was to blame for not getting him treated.
• The prosecution's final witness was Dr. Simon. After playing the tape for the jury, Dr. Simon testified that Scott had a psychosis in the form of an attraction for his own mother, and that he transferred his lust for - and anger toward - his mother to Marcia Hooper.
• Jeffrey Coho cross-examined Dr. Simon and questioned why he had given the recording to the "angry husband". He also brought Dr. Simon up for ridicule by relating his story about kissing Gina Gershon.
• The first defense witness was Scott Little. He explained that he was in treatment for his condition, but he loved Marcia Hooper and didn't kill her. A.D.A. Winant reminded Scott he'd told the police he didn't love Marcia Hooper, so he was now lying.
• The final witness in the trial was Barbara Little. A.D.A. Winant also painted her as a liar because she'd denied knowledge of the affair to police and had also claimed under oath that Scott's father had molested him during child custody hearings, a charge she later withdrew.
• When Judge Cooper asked if he had any questions on redirect, Jeffrey seemed to take a moment to think before launching into a series of harsh questions for Barbara Little: "Have you been lying to protect Scott? Didn't you know Scott was in love with you? Is the love affair mutual? Are you in love with your son?" and then suggested she killed Marcia Hooper. Barbara, convincingly, asked for a lawyer and refused to answer any further questions.
• In his closing, A.D.A. Winant accused Jeffrey of staging Barbara Little's testimony, asking the jury: "Did you fall for that?"
• Jeffrey's closing focused on reasonable doubt. The police didn't investigate anybody besides Scott Little, when three or more potential suspects were identified during the trial. The only physical evidence was Scott Little's semen, which proved nothing since he had admitted he was there. The entire case revolved around "a video and an opinion proffered by an eccentric therapist who runs around telling people he's kissed movie stars he's never even met".
• After the not-guilty verdict, Barbara and Scott Little had a few minutes alone while their defense team faced the throng of reporters. Scott was worried that Jeffrey knew the truth - that Barbara had killed Marcia Hooper - but Barbara reassured him it was all a tactic. Then the two exchanged a passionate kiss.

Part 1: Episode 3x02
Part 2: Episode 3x03
Part 3: Episode 3x04
Part 4: Episode 3x05
Part 5: Episode 3x06