With Ness nearing the end of her clerkship, Lola sets her up to shadow Emily, who is defending a young man who reoffended, and the verdict lies with Judge Campbell who is notoriously harsh on repeat offenders. Also, Rachel reveals to Lola that she kissed Mark, and Mark struggles to find out why Luke’s name is on a list of cops dropped off by Deep Throat.

Lola returns to the Hall of Justice and presides over a case where Amy represents a young woman accused of a swatting incident that resulted in the Dean of a university being shot. Also, Amy and Rachel make up, and Amy brings her divorce papers to her dying husband.

Lola is conflicted when a former judge, Judge Prudence Jenkins, whom she idolized, has been accused of bribery and is representing herself in a bench trial. Also, Mark moves forward with the case against McCarthy and he and Corrine Cuthbert each get one unchallenged request for a new judge, no questions asked.

Lola finds herself in the judicial hotseat when she presides over the case of former Sherriff Wayne McCarthy, and struggles because she and Mark can't talk to each other outside the courtroom. Also, Detective Rashel and other cops come forward to speak against McCarthy, but Corinne continues to turn their testimonies against them, and Luke demands that Mark allow him to take the stand.