Chicago Justice episode 11 review: The case of ‘virtual kidnapping’

In kicking off our Chicago Justice episode 11 review, let’s start off by saying this: Why can’t let defense attorneys just let Peter Stone eat?

Anyway, tonight the State’s Attorney’s office took on what was called a “virtual kidnapping.” A mother did everything that she could in order to save her daughter after thinking that she had been abducted. However, in the process of doing so, she killed an alderman and fled from the scene of the crime. She was responsible for the death (there is no disputing that), but she was also acting under duress, unknowing that her daughter was actually fine and in no danger at all.

How sympathetic should the prosecution be? This was the question at the center of the hour, and there was tension between Stone, Valdez, and and Mark Jefferies over how to handle it. For Jefferies, he found it inconsequential what the situation was — in her eyes, guilty was guilty, and this was precisely what mattered more than anything else.

Eventually, Jefferies and Stone / Valdez came to an agreement, and from there the focus shifted to try to figure out precisely what was going on with the defendant at the time of the crash. Were there really some threats that were causing her to act in such a manner? There was the issue of determining her guilt, and then there was the issue in determining how responsible her ex was in having everything happen because of the threat against the child.

When we first got into the courtroom, Stone did his best to make a compelling argument; however, what we saw at the end of the day was a mistrial. Then, we saw the case fall apart as a deal went south at the last second. Ironically, though, it was being in the negotiating room that turned the tide. Because of the high emotion that was in that room, the ex broke and admitted to making the threats. This changed of course the entire course of the case, and proved that he was responsible for the alderman’s death. While the mother was still sentenced to a year’s probation, she was able to avoid jail time.

Overall

This was another interesting, complex case, and we suppose that Jefferies said it best — even though the ex may have hated the mother of his child, he was willing to go to prison in the end instead of pawning it off on her. Relationships are challenging and fascinating that way. The good news is that the Justice team did get what they wanted in the end, despite the complications along the way. Grade: B+.

What comes next on Chicago Justice?

If you want a little more information on the future of the series, be sure to head over to the link here! There are only a couple episodes left this season, so fingers crossed that a renewal is coming for the show sooner rather than later. (Photo: NBC.)