Abbie Carmichael

Abbie Carmichael was a fictional character on the TV drama Law & Order portrayed by model/actress Angie Harmon from 1998 to 2001.

Related Topics:
Law & Order - Model - Actress - Angie Harmon - 1998 - 2001

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Assistant District Attorney Abbie Carmichael joined the DA's office in 1998, transferring from the Narcotics Bureau to replace Jamie Ross as Executive Assistant District Attorney Jack McCoy's assistant. Unlike her predecessor, Carmichael was a staunch political conservative (as is Harmon herself): she was pro-life, opposed gun control, favored the death penalty, and had little to no faith in criminal rehabilitation programs. These (often rigid) political beliefs often put her in conflict with McCoy and DAs Adam Schiff and Nora Lewin, all of whom were of more liberal stripe.

Related Topics:
District Attorney - Jamie Ross - Jack McCoy - Political conservative - Pro-life - Gun control - Death penalty - Rehabilitation - Adam Schiff - Nora Lewin - Liberal

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The first case to affect her political outlook was the prosecution of a cop killer who claimed her victim had forced her into a sexual relationship while she was in prison. Carmichael, who had prosecuted the woman before on a drug charge, had no sympathy for her and seemed hell-bent on putting her in prison for life—until she cross-examined the woman, who revealed that her victim/rapist had made her helpless. This struck a chord in Carmichael, who suddenly organized a lenient plea bargain for the woman, and later revealed to McCoy that she had been raped in college. From this point on, she softened her prosecutorial politics somewhat.

Related Topics:
Prosecution - Prison - Cross-examined - Rapist - Plea bargain - Rape - College

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Another significant development in her life was the murder of her friend and fellow ADA Antonella Ricci by the Russian mobsters she was prosecuting. It was the only time during her tenure in the DA's office that she let anyone see her cry.

Related Topics:
Murder - Russia

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Despite changes in her life and (to a much lesser degree) political philosophy, she remained an uncompromising, zealous prosecutor more likely to seek the highest penalties than make plea bargains. Even though they often disagreed, she and McCoy grew to respect each other deeply.

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Carmichael left the DA's office in 2001. She was replaced by Serena Southerlyn.

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