The Trials of Rosie O'Neill

Newly single Rosie has become a public defender in LA, leaving a lucrative practice. Her boss is Ben, officemate Hank and secretary Carole. On the home front is mother Charlotte, sister Doreen, and stepdaughter Kim.

Genre: Drama

Cast:Sharon Gless , Ron Rifkin , Georgann Johnson , Lisa Banes , Lisa Rieffel , Dorian Harewood , Elaine Kagan , Dayna Winston , Bridget Gless , Edward Asner , Geoffrey Lower , Al Pugliese , John Carter , Tony Perez , Karen Austin , Marisa Redanty , George Furth , Meg Foster

1Season 1

S1.E1 ∙ Starting Over

Mon, Sep 17, 1990

Rosie's put through her paces by a client who's charged with killing her newborn infant. Meanwhile, she struggles with her feelings of loss over her recent divorce, and the needs of her mother, sister, and step-daughter.

2Season 1

S1.E2 ∙ The Rapist

Mon, Sep 24, 1990

Rosie battles her conscience and her fear when she fights to clear a rapist who shows no remorse and says he'll strike again.

3Season 1

S1.E3 ∙ So Long Patrick

Mon, Oct 1, 1990

After a client's mother puts a hex on her, Rosie is cursed with a seemingly unwinnable case and a personal life that seems jinxed as well.

4Season 1

S1.E4 ∙ Late Night Callers

Mon, Oct 15, 1990

The man Rosie defends in a case of mistaken identity gets the wrong idea about their relationship; Steve (Doug Wert) wants a decision from Rosie on their future.

5Season 1

S1.E5 ∙ Shalom

Mon, Oct 22, 1990

Rosie believes in her All-American client, who's accused of defacing a Jewish cemetery, while Hank (Dorian Harewood) questions Ben's beliefs on personal freedom.

6Season 1

S1.E6 ∙ An Act of Love

Mon, Oct 29, 1990

Rosie comes face-to-face with her own mortality when her handling of an AIDS euthanasia case gets her thinking about her own susceptibility to the disease.

7Season 1

S1.E7 ∙ When I'm 44

Mon, Nov 5, 1990

Rosie's 44th birthday is no party as she burns the candle at both ends searching for evidence to clear a man accused of child molestation.

8Season 1

S1.E8 ∙ Rosie Gets the Blues

Mon, Nov 19, 1990

Thanksgiving gives Rosie the blues when she tries to help a homeless blues legend (Bill Cobbs) charged with kidnapping the rocker who stole his song.

9Season 1

S1.E9 ∙ The Gang's All Here

Mon, Nov 26, 1990

The severity of the gang problem hits home with Rosie, who tries to help an ex-gang member beat an assault charge, even though the fight was videotaped.

10Season 1

S1.E10 ∙ Mr. Right

Mon, Dec 3, 1990

Rosie faces two trials: quitting smoking and defending a prostitute (Alix Koromzay) accused of killing her vicious pimp with the gun he used to threaten her.

11Season 1

S1.E11 ∙ The Man from ELF

Mon, Dec 17, 1990

Rosie hopes to spring a client claiming to be an elf (Paul Williams) before Christmas Eve, the night a Scrooge of a judge has set for trial.

12Season 1

S1.E12 ∙ Mother Love

Sun, Dec 30, 1990

Rosie fights with a fragile Kim while representing a woman (Sheila Johns) who shot and killed her drug-addicted daughter.

13Season 1

S1.E13 ∙ State of Mind

Mon, Jan 7, 1991

Rosie becomes preoccupied with curing the ills of a system that allows a mentally unstable woman (Peggy McCay) to live on the streets.

14Season 1

S1.E14 ∙ Time Will Tell

Mon, Jan 14, 1991

At an awards dinner, Rosie discovers a side of her father she doesn't like, and a side of Kim (Lisa Rieffel) she does, when Kim tags along for a school project on the justice system.

15Season 1

S1.E15 ∙ The Reunion

Mon, Jan 28, 1991

Rosie's high-school pal (Tyne Daly), now a Broadway star, returns for their 25th reunion---only she's not exactly singing Rosie's praises. Carole King performs the show's theme song, which she wrote.

16Season 1

S1.E16 ∙ A Conflict of Interest

Sun, Jun 9, 1991

Rosie notices a family resemblance---in attitude---when she defends Hank's obstinate brother (Kevin N. Davis), who laments his lack of opportunity while refusing to give up the guy who committed an armed robbery.

17Season 1

S1.E17 ∙ Environmental Robin Hood

Sun, Jun 16, 1991

An ecoterrorist (Robert Foxworth) holds Rosie's conscience hostage, pressuring her to argue the issue, which Rosie feels could be toxic to her mistaken-identity defense.

18Season 1

S1.E18 ∙ Special Circumstances

Sun, Jun 23, 1991

In Rosie's first capital offense case, which could end in the death penalty, Rosie and Hank defend a young black man accused of murder. Rosie insists that she should make the closing arguments, but Hank, haunted by his own experiences of racism, says she can't possibly speak for a black man in America. Later, circumstances put Rosie to the test and her client's life hangs in the balance.

1Season 2

S2.E1 ∙ Real Mothers

Thu, Sep 12, 1991

Rosie struggles with the Mother of all cases when her client is on trial for kidnapping her own foster son. The client claims he ran away after being reunited with his junkie mother who is fresh out of of jail. To make matters worse her other client Walter Kovacs (Ed Asner) is a gruff former cop who hates Public Defenders! Now Rosie must convince him to help her find the missing kid!

2Season 2

S2.E2 ∙ Knock, Knock

Thu, Sep 19, 1991

Rosie faces a difficult case when a mentally handicapped man is on trial for the murder of a ten year old girl. Rosie believes the man was confused when he confessed to the crime & now must find a way to prove it. To make matters worse, even if she is able to keep him from going to jail, he still may be end up incarcerated at a Mental Institution.

3Season 2

S2.E3 ∙ Domestic Silence

Thu, Sep 26, 1991

Rosie struggles with her latest client, a battered woman who is on trial for failing to prevent the murder of her son, by her abusive spouse. Rosie argues battered women's syndrome prevented her from acting, but an unsympathetic Prosecutor, Judge & her own client disagree. Meanwhile Rosie has a house guest after her mother's injury forces the usually strong willed woman to ask for help.

4Season 2

S2.E4 ∙ Wolf Pack

Thu, Oct 3, 1991

Rosie finds herself in the middle of an unusual case when she becomes Co-Council to Defense hotshot Angela Gianelli (Brenda Vaccaro) on a case where two Frat brothers accidentally killed a pledge. Rosie's client Pete Ellis (Danny Nucci) refuses to make a deal to turn on his "brother", but Rosie finds brotherhood only goes so far when Angela proves to be a snake in the grass.

5Season 2

S2.E5 ∙ This Can't Be Love

Thu, Oct 31, 1991

Rosie must analyze her own ethical concerns, when her client is on trial for trying to mercy kill her child who is brain dead. The problem intensifies as her husband refuses to take her off of life support thinking a miracle will happen at any moment, despite what the Doctors say. Meanwhile Kim plagiarizes an essay for school & now Rosie must work with her Ex to find a suitable punishment.

6Season 2

S2.E6 ∙ For Love or Money

Thu, Nov 7, 1991

Rosie has a peculiar case, in which her client openly admits too attacking her late husband's Doctor. She claims though since his negligence caused his death, she's even! Meanwhile Rosie reconnects with an old College friend & struggles with a possible romantic relationship between the two, harming their friendship.

7Season 2

S2.E7 ∙ Happy Birthday or Else

Thu, Nov 14, 1991

Rosie's latest case seems simple with a virtual choir boy with a first time offense, but soon she finds that he is a con man, & this is just his latest con. Well at least Rosie thinks he is, because he's adamant that the Government is setting him up! Rosie struggles with planing her own Birthday Party, but decides change plans at the last minute & make it a party for Kovacs, much to his annoyance.

8Season 2

S2.E8 ∙ Dr. Psychedelic

Fri, Nov 15, 1991

Rosie's latest client is a well respected Mission worker on trial for stealing & distributing frozen chickens to the homeless. She's confident that she can get him off easily, but a reporter whom Rosie has a conflict with, reveals he made & distributed LSD in the 60s! To make matters worse Kovacs was the one to bust him! Now Rosie & the rest of the lawyers are unsure if they can trust Kovacs!

9Season 2

S2.E9 ∙ Family Business

Fri, Nov 22, 1991

A Laotian immigrant is charged with murder after defending herself against an ancient marital ritual that is consummated in rape.

10Season 2

S2.E10 ∙ Battle Fatigue

Thu, Dec 12, 1991

Rosie struggles with both personal & ethical issues with her latest case. Her client is an unrepentant about his past crimes & views Rosie's hard work as his free ticket out of Jail. Meanwhile Rosie finds her long time friend, Prosecutor Deb Grant (Meg Foster) may be hiding evidence to help get her a better job. Now Rosie has to debate ruining her friend's career to help free a guilty man.

11Season 2

S2.E11 ∙ Lady Luck

Sun, Apr 5, 1992

After a chance encounter with newspaper editor Peter Donovan (Robert Wagner), Rosie's love life is reawakened. As she becomes closer with Peter, she finds Hank has fallen for her newest client. Rosie struggles to keep Hank's own budding romance from forming a conflict of interest which could harm her case, but as she finds this woman is not who she says, she must find a way to protect Hank.

12Season 2

S2.E12 ∙ The Other Woman

Sun, Apr 12, 1992

Rosie is on cloud 9 as her relationship with Peter Donovan (Robert Wagner), but it all soon comes crashing down when she finds he's married! Now she must navigate the feelings she has for him vs becoming the much hated "Other Woman" that she has had her own experience with. To make matters worse, this is now affecting her latest case, which may be racially motivated.

13Season 2

S2.E13 ∙ Heartbreak Hotel

Sun, Apr 19, 1992

Rosie continues her relationship with the very dashing & very married Peter Donovan (Robert Wagner). The two plan a romantic weekend get away, but Rosie finds it difficult to enjoy herself as she struggles with her guilt. It gets worse for her, when her guilt begins to manifest itself as some familiar looking people.

14Season 2

S2.E14 ∙ Sweet Sixteen

Sat, Apr 25, 1992

Rosie struggles to balance her work life & personal life as she finds her case bares a resemblance to the latter. Her latest client is a 16 year old wanna be gang member on trial for a drive by shooting. Now she wants to appear "tough" & refuses to reveal she actually had nothing to do with the shooting. Meanwhile Kim wants to go to a frat party with a 19 year old she doesn't know.

15Season 2

S2.E15 ∙ Double Bind

Sun, May 3, 1992

Rosie's latest client is a pregnant woman on trial for stealing a credit card, & while convinced she can get her off, a crusading D.A. wants her thrown in jail because she was a drug addict! He claims that she's likely to begin using again & now Rosie must find a way to help her out of this! Meanwhile Rosie & Doreen are suspicious of their mother's new boyfriend, since she's giving him a loan!

16Season 2

S2.E16 ∙ Role Reversal

Sat, May 30, 1992

Rosie's latest case, seems cut & dry, but soon goes against the societal norm. Her client is on trial for drunkenly abusing his son, but it may seem that he was the one being abused. At home, Rosie finds that Kim is being sexually harassed at school, and is fearful of retaliation if she comes forward. Meanwhile Kovacs confronts his strained relationship with his children.