A Time For Mercy

On May 8, Deputy Plather arrives at the jail and picks up Drew for his first court appearance. In Judge Noose’s chamber, he, Jake, and Lowell set a trial date for August 6. Several defendants wait for their indictments in the courtroom, and people interested in seeing Drew crowd the room. Drew enters a plea of not guilty and leaves the courtroom. Jake is annoyed because Noose could have bypassed this, but he knows Noose is playing to the public for his election.

At the office one day, Portia tells Jake she’s worried about the lack of business the firm is seeing. They’ve only opened seven minor new files in six weeks when they usually open twenty in a month. Jake tells her not to worry and that he’ll handle it.

Kiera has developed a friendship with Reverend McGarry’s wife, Meg, who is also pregnant. One day, the women talk about abortion and the decision Kiera must make. Meg tells Kiera that abortion is murder and causes lasting damage to any woman who has one. She then tells Kiera that no doctor will perform an abortion if the mother doesn’t want it and encourages Kiera to stand up for herself and what she wants.