Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Season 7

[during Ella's arraignment]

Judge Preston:
How do you plead?

Ella:
Not guilty.

Judge Preston:
I'll hear the People on bail.

Novak:
Well, a million has a nice ring to it.

Berger:
Whoa, whoa, whoa.

Novak:
The defendant is a flight risk.

Berger:
To where? Jersey? She's a U.S. citizen.

Novak:
Given the severity of her crimes, and the fact that she killed a baby once before...

Berger:
My client was never charged with that crime. In fact, there was no crime. That fetus was stillborn.

Judge Preston:
Mr. Berger!

Berger:
Your honor, this poor girl lost a child. How dare the People twist that tragic incident to suit their own needs.

Novak:
You have got to be kidding.

Berger:
No! You are. My client doesn't have as much as a parking ticket!

Novak:
I'm sure if she did, she'd just throw it in the trash along with her babies.

Judge Preston:
Oh, all right. That's enough out of both of you. As I believe the defendant is not a threat to anyone but her own offspring, the court is requesting that in exchange for a lower bail amount, she does not get pregnant again before trial.

Berger:
That's unconstitutional!

Judge Preston:
I'm not ordering that she be sterilized, Mr. Berger. [to Ella] But if you do become pregnant again, young lady, you will be found in contempt of this court, and bail will be rescinded.

Berger:
Your honor has no right to legislate procreation.

Judge Preston:
You think you could manage to comply with that order, Miss Christensen?

Ella:
I don't know.

Judge Preston:
Bail is set at 2,000,000, cash or bond. 10-minute recess. [bangs gavel]