Ep 1. Pilot

In the first episode of All Rise, we are introduced to Judge Lola Carmichael, a newcomer to the Los Angeles court system who is eager to see justice served. The episode opens with Lola walking to work, excited about her first day as a judge. When she arrives at the courthouse, she meets her fellow judges, clerk, and bailiff, all of whom seem to be looking down on her for being a rookie.

Lola's first case involves a young woman named Jessica who has been arrested for stealing a purse. Jessica pleads guilty and asks for leniency, explaining that she stole the purse to try and keep her younger sister out of foster care. Despite the fact that the prosecutor recommends jail time, Lola decides to give Jessica community service instead, hoping that she can turn her life around and help her sister in the process.

As the episode progresses, we learn more about Lola's personal life. She's recently divorced, and in the midst of trying to figure out how to co-parent with her ex-husband. She also has a complicated relationship with Mark, a prosecutor she used to date who is now her colleague in the courtroom. Lola tries to remain professional around Mark, but their history makes it difficult.

In addition to Jessica's case, the episode includes several other cases that come before Lola throughout the day. One case involves a man who has been arrested for domestic violence, but claims that his wife was the aggressor. Lola listens to both sides of the story and ultimately decides to dismiss the charges due to lack of evidence. Another case involves a man who was caught driving with a suspended license. Lola decides to give him community service as well, hoping that it will encourage him to finally get his license reinstated.

One of the most powerful scenes in the episode involves a group of teenage boys who have been arrested for breaking and entering. It's revealed that these boys are all from the same troubled neighborhood, and that they've turned to crime as a way to survive. Lola decides to give them a chance, and orders them to attend a program aimed at helping young men stay out of trouble. This scene is meant to highlight the fact that the justice system can sometimes perpetuate cycles of poverty and crime, and that it's important for judges to consider the bigger picture when making decisions.

Overall, the first episode of All Rise sets up an engaging legal drama that doesn't shy away from the complexities of the justice system. We see Lola struggling to balance her personal and professional life, while also grappling with difficult decisions in the courtroom. The show seems to be positioning itself as a thought-provoking exploration of what it means to seek justice in a flawed system, and it's clear that Lola will be at the center of that exploration moving forward.