L.A. Law1986

[Back at the courthouse in the city of Los Angeles. Here at Judge Stone's chambers, Judge Stone reads the letter]

Judge Walter Stone:
This is a last-minute stunt.

Michael Kuzak:
It's no stunt, Your Honor, my client seeks to discharge me as counsel. That's his prerogative.

Judge Walter Stone:
What's wrong?

Michael Kuzak:
As long as I am still his lawyer, I would like all dialog to go through with me, please.

Judge Walter Stone:
Denied. You want a new lawyer? You're so glad to tell me why.

Brian Chisolm:
We had differences of opinion, which I feel compromise Mr. Kuzak's ability to provide effective representation.

Judge Walter Stone:
Such as?

Michael Kuzak:
Work product. Don't answer.

Judge Walter Stone:
Fine. Mr. Rollins will be your lawyer. We start tomorrow.

Michael Kuzak:
Your Honor, the conflicts are germane to the entire firm, Mr. Rollins included.

Judge Walter Stone:
Either you tell me what these conflicts are or your motion is denied.

Michael Kuzak:
Defense strategy, personality differences, he's not satisfied with my competency.

Judge Walter Stone:
Uh-huh. Well, you're competent all right. So competent in fact that I have no doubt that you instructed him to discharge you in order to buy more time. Hoping that by the time this thing rolled around again the trial. I'll be wrapped up in something else and you have to get a different judge. Well, that's not going to happened. You're very adequate, counsel, no grounds for a switch. This trial starts tomorrow. That's all.

Michael Kuzak:
Your Honor!

Judge Walter Stone:
I said that's all.

[Mr. Kuzak, Mr. Rollins, D.A. Marcia Fusco, and Brian Chisolm leaves the chambers of the Honorable Judge Walter Stone. And now Michael talks with D.A. Marcia Fusco]

Michael Kuzak:
You could live with this?

D.A. Marcia Fusco:
Hey, you think I like it? I get everybody breathing down my back for conviction while I barely have any evidence. Was hoping it'll trick with work.

Brian Chisolm:
Mr. Kuzak. Mr. Kuzak, what the hell is going? God, I thought you said this will work out.

Michael Kuzak:
Well, I was wrong, Brian, and quite honestly right now I don't know what to tell you.

[Michael sighed]