Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (TV Series)

Imposter (2016)

Vincent Curatola: Trial Judge Al Bertuccio

Photos 

Quotes 

• Judge Al Bertuccio : [to Barba]  You want to be a legislator, too.

  Rafael Barba : Excuse me?

  Judge Al Bertuccio : Correct me if I'm wrong, Mr. Barba, but your job is to bring cases that are actually crimes under the New York Criminal Code.

  Rafael Barba : We presented the facts to the grand jury, who delivered an indictment.

  Judge Al Bertuccio : I once indicted a ham and cheese sandwich for triple homicide.

  Rafael Barba : Well, the defense filed the motion to dismiss.

  Judge Al Bertuccio : You want me to kick a rape case in this political climate without hearing all of the evidence? What's really going on here? You want press? You're laying the bed for a political run?

  Rafael Barba : With all due respect, Judge Bertuccio, you're out of line.

  Judge Al Bertuccio : Oh, be careful, Counselor. Just because you preface something with "all due respect" doesn't mean it's respectable.

  Rafael Barba : I didn't intend to...

  Judge Al Bertuccio : Do not use my courtroom for your own agenda. Do you hear me?

  Rafael Barba : Are you asking me to dismiss the case?

  Judge Al Bertuccio : No, no.

  [chuckles] 

  Judge Al Bertuccio : I would never ask a prosecutor to dismiss a case that he believes is worthy of the court's time. That would be an abuse of judicial power.

  [walks away] 

• Judge Al Bertuccio : You wish to present a closing argument, Miss Staines?

  Nikki Staines : Yes, Your Honor. Ladies and gentlemen, my client isn't perfect. Truth is, he's not even decent. If he tried to date me, I would laugh at him or I'd punch him in the face.

• Judge Al Bertuccio : A compelling closing, Miss Staines.

  Nikki Staines : Thank you.

  Judge Al Bertuccio : And I'm sure the jury found it persuasive as well. How about you, Mr. Barba? What was your take? Did you find it illuminating, per chance?

  Rafael Barba : Your Honor, I stand by the evidence.

  Judge Al Bertuccio : I don't care about the evidence. I care about the law, or the lack thereof. You're a talented prosecutor with a bright future, and if I were you, I would take Miss Staines out for a cup of that gourmet coffee everyone drinks nowadays and beg her to accept the plea to a lesser charge, which I'm sure she'll accept, because she's a reasonable woman and knows that her client is a repulsive human being. Judges and prosecutors are supposed to enforce the laws that exist, not the ones they think should exist and when they lose sight of that, they run the risk of getting their pants pulled down in public and having their sterling reputations sullied.