Both Law & Order And Law & Order: SVU Gave Baxter The Same Problem, Yet Somehow Missed A Big Opportunity

WARNING: SPOILERS ahead for Law & Order season 24, episode 11 and Law & Order: SVU season 26, episode 11.

This article contains references to the sexual exploitation of minors and the targeting of minors over the internet.

The Law and Order franchise's Nicholas Baxter (Tony Goldwyn) appears in both Law & Order and SVU's 11th episodes of the current season for similar reasons, but the two series fail to make the most of this crossover opportunity. As the replacement for Law & Order's Jack McCoy (Sam Waterston), Baxter often has to make tough decisions about cases while keeping his lead attorneys happy enough that they won't leave. However, he's made an effort to distinguish himself from his predecessor by focusing more on the big picture than individual wins.

Law & Order season 24, episode 11 involves Baxter's decision-making in an intense case of an abused woman accused of facilitating her daughter's murder at her late husband's hands. Baxter also makes a rare appearance in one of Law & Order: SVU's creepiest episodes to resolve a conflict over whether a suspect with an intellectual disability should be charged as part of a sting targeting pedophiles who use the internet to lure their victims to hotel rooms. In both cases, Baxter must decide whether to move forward despite objections.

Both Maroun & Silva Fought For Cases To Be Dismissed In The Name Of Justice

Baxter Had To Make The Final Decisions

Law & Order's Samantha Maroun (Odeyla Halevi) and SVU's Kate Silva (Juliana Aiden Martinez) face similar dilemmas in their respective shows. The Law & Order episode revolves around Michelle Burns (Abigail Spencer), a filmmaker who is accused of enabling her daughter's murder by her abusive husband. Maroun demands Price (Hugh Dancy) join her in asking Baxter to get rid of the case after a judge denies the defense's motion to allow a psychologist to testify about Michelle's state of mind. She feels that prosecuting Michelle would set a precedent of punishing abuse victims for their trauma responses.

Baxter agrees to a plea deal for Michelle to get this case off his desk. However, soon afterward, he has another case to decide. Kate Silva participates in a sting operation that nets the department 50 pedophiles. However, the last suspect is a disabled man with the mental age of 10, who brings condoms to the meetup at Silva's request but doesn't know what they're for. Thus, Silva doesn't believe he should be prosecuted, and ultimately, Benson (Mariska Hargitay) makes Carisi (Peter Scanavino) accompany her to convince Baxter to drop the charges.

Silva's Case With The SVU Was More Clearcut Than Maroun's

It's Obvious There's A Miscarriage of Justice In This Case

Law & Order SVU Silva (Juliana Aidén Martinez) sitting at her desk looking pensive and writing on a yellow legal pad — Law & Order SVU Silva sitting at her desk looking pensive and writing on a yellow legal pad

Silva's case is the more straightforward of the two. Matthew's appearance and behavior during the sting, such as showing off his new lizard t-shirt, make it clear he is not entirely aware of the severity of what is going on. Furthermore, while the other men arrested in the sting all respond with eagerness and excitement to the suggestion that they bring condoms to the encounter, Matthew replies, "What are condoms?" Thus, Matthew's possession of condoms doesn't signify an intent to have sex with a minor, but only to please his new internet friend who asked for them.

Price's argument that Michelle knew what she was doing also holds merit.

In Maroun's case, it's difficult to tell whether Michelle truly lacks appreciation for the potential consequences of her actions. While it seems logical to Maroun that Michelle's trauma led her to shield her husband from harm rather than protect her daughter, Price also points out at trial that Michelle made a film in which the abused daughter is killed by her abuser. Thus, Price's argument that Michelle knew what she was doing also holds merit. This ambiguity is likely why Baxter agrees to a plea deal with minimal jail time rather than dismissing the case altogether.

Law & Order & Law & Order: SVU Missed The Chance To Make A Proper Connection

The Two Cases Are Entirely Separate Despite Baxter's Involvement In Both

Unfortunately, Baxter's cameo in Law & Order: SVU doesn't include any mention of the case he just finished. Instead, Benson confronts him at the end of a long day when he's trying to go home, and he agrees to look at the case, then gives her his decision off-screen. This way of handling Baxter's two appearances has the effect of making the cases in Law & Order and SVU feel completely separate, even though both shows are part of the shared One Chicago universe.

It would have helped strengthen the Law & Order franchise's connection if anyone had consulted Benson or another trauma expert from the Special Victims Unit about Michelle's claims.

If Baxter had gone into too much detail about his previous case, it would have been a distraction. However, it wouldn't have been necessary to do so. A throwaway line about how this was the second such request he'd gotten in the last hour would have been sufficient. Additionally, it would have helped strengthen the Law & Order franchise's connections if anyone had consulted Benson or another trauma expert from the Special Victims Unit about Michelle's claims.

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