Jack McCoy

John 'Jack' McCoy is a fictional character in the television drama Law & Order, played by Sam Waterston since 1994.

Related Topics:
Fictional character - Law & Order - Sam Waterston - 1994

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Appointed Executive Assistant District Attorney in 1994 by DA Adam Schiff, McCoy quickly established himself as a more unconventional, ruthless litigator than his predecessor, Ben Stone; he was infamous for bending (but not breaking) trial rules to get convictions, finding tenuous rationales for charging defendants with crimes when the original charges didn't stick, and making passionate, to the point of inflammatory, closing arguments. He was more than once found in contempt of court for such behavior. His underlying motivation, however, is not corruption, but a sincere desire to see justice done.

Related Topics:
Adam Schiff - Ben Stone - Contempt of court - Corruption - Justice

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In addition, unlike Stone, he embraces the option of the death penalty claiming it is a suitable punishment for particularly heinous crimes and a useful threat to use in plea bargaining. This often has led to heated arguments with his more liberal colleagues who are often repelled by his apparent bloodthirstiness. However, he has shown mercy on occasion such as when a seriously mentally ill boy was accused of murdering his sister. When the boy's stubborn but influential grandfather, who has mental health issues of his own, interferes with the case to prevent the boy to being committed to a mental hospital as opposed to facing trial and possibly prison, McCoy leads the effort to prevent an unjust punishment for the boy.

Related Topics:
Death penalty - Plea bargaining

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McCoy is also a notorious womanizer, having had sexual relationships with four of his female assistants. This tendency has often blown up in his face: one such assistant, Diana Hawthorne, was later found to have suppressed evidence so they could win a case (unbeknownst to McCoy and to his horror upon finding out about this personally unacceptable act); another, Claire Kincaid, was killed in a car accident just as their relationship was starting to unravel, a source of great pain for him. Since Kincaid's death, McCoy has kept his relationships with assistants (who have all been female and very attractive) professional, although he nurtured friendships with all of them, particularly Jamie Ross.

Related Topics:
Womanizer - Claire Kincaid - Jamie Ross

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McCoy is divorced and has a grown daughter (who has never been seen on the show and is rarely mentioned.)

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