# "The Closer" nitpick: Why is Chief Johnson involved in plea negotiations? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 8, 2009, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-closer-nitpick-why-is-chief-johnson-involved-in-plea-negotiations/492423 "2009-04-08T20:17:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 2\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2009, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-closer-nitpick-why-is-chief-johnson-involved-in-plea-negotiations/492423/1 "2009-04-08T20:17:27Z")
I’m a lawyer. I don’t practice criminal law. But I watch the _Law & Order_ shows a lot, and whenever the suspect’s lawyer wants to “make a deal” or “offer a plea,” the negotiation is between defense counsel and an Assistant District Attorney; the detectives are not directly involved, they would not even have the authority to make such a deal. But I saw an episode of _The Closer_ the other night where the suspect’s lawyer was trying to work out a deal with Chief Johnson. Waitaminnit, why is she involved at all? Is the law/system different on this point in California than NY? ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2009, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-closer-nitpick-why-is-chief-johnson-involved-in-plea-negotiations/492423/2 "2009-04-10T00:49:05Z")
bump