Warning: SPOILERS ahead forLaw & Orderseason 24, episode 15, “Crossing Lines.“I’m shocked by the twist in Baxter’s (Tony Goldwyn) recusal storyline inLaw & Orderseason 24, episode 15, titled “Crossing Lines.” In the year since Baxter replacedLaw & Order’s Jack McCoy(Sam Waterston), the procedural has not often shown his personal life. He butted heads with his then-wife in the season 23 finale, but no further mention has been made of the status of their relationship since he won re-election to the district attorney position. Thus, it is surprising that he is involved in the type of relationship that requires recusal.
“Crossing Lines” draws Baxter into the action when a dead John Doe is foundwith the district attorney’s business card in his pocket. Baxter soon identifies the man as the son of a senator whom Baxter has a personal connection with. While that connection could cause a conflict of interest for Baxter, that is not the reason he chooses to recuse himself — it is because of his relationship with the defense attorney on the case. This gobsmacking twist kept my interest and may be the type of writingLaw & Orderseason 24 needs to save the series.
Baxter’s New Relationship Forced Him To Recuse Himself From Law & Order: SVU Season 24, Episode 15 Case
He Is Dating The Defense Attorney
When Brady (Maura Tierney) visits Baxter’s home to ask him about the John Doe, she learns that he is dating — and potentially living with — Kate Norris (Maggie Siff), a well-known defense attorney. Baxter explains he and Kate have known each other since law school and recently reconnected. Soon, it is revealed thatKate is the defense attorney in the current case, so Baxter’s loyalties will be divided if he tries to guide his attorneysin how to counteract Kate’s strategy. This compelling twist makes for one ofLaw & Order’s best episodes, as it offers a meaty conflict for Baxter.
Both Law & Order And Law & Order: SVU Gave Baxter The Same Problem, Yet Somehow Missed A Big Opportunity
Law & Order and Law & Order: SVU missed an opportunity for connection despite Baxter being an important character in both show’s stories.
I wasn’t sure what recusal would look like since Baxter doesn’t try cases, but subsequent events in the episode demonstrate that it means Kate has to bring her concerns about prosecutorial strategy to Nolan Price (Hugh Dancy), not Baxter. Ultimately, Baxter ends up in the middle despite recusal, with Kate pressuring him to discuss the case at home and Nolan informing him that he thinks Kate intimidated a prosecution witness into recanting their statement. Furthermore, when Nolan wins his case, Kate takes it personally and storms away from Baxter, leaving the future of their relationship in doubt.
Baxter’s Recusal Means He Has Quietly Separated From His Wife
They Were Together But Arguing In Season 23
It was also difficult for me to fathom Baxter’s attraction to Kate. At best, she straddles ethical lines, while he is a straight shooter who believes justice and morality are more important than winning a given case. Thus, itis unsurprising that the relationship appears to be imploding throughout “Crossing Lines"and is likely over given Kate’s response to Baxter after she loses the case.
This interesting development is more shocking than it otherwise would have been because Law & Order so rarely delves into Baxter’s personal life.
However, this twist also contains a bigger surprise. While Baxter is married inLaw & Orderseason 23, that relationship is now over. The procedural never mentioned this before, instead leaving the story thread hanging after the argument between Baxter and his wife in the season 23 finale. This interesting development is more shocking than it otherwise would have been becauseLaw & Orderso rarely delves into Baxter’s personal life. Thus, there were no indications that his marriage was over until the reveal that he was now dating someone else.
