The Proving Ground

Mitchell Mason cross-examines Dr. Porreca, attempting to discredit her as a paid witness. She firmly defends her qualifications, insisting on being addressed as “Doctor” and explaining that she loses money by testifying. On redirect, Haller asks why she agrees to examine such cases. She responds that while she can help only one patient at a time in practice, cases like this protect vulnerable children on a larger scale. When Haller asks about other similar cases that ended in violence, Dr. Porreca starts to answer before Mason objects. Judge Ruhlin holds Haller in contempt for circumventing her pretrial ruling barring evidence of other AI-related cases, but holds the order in abeyance until the end of the trial. She instructs the jury to disregard the testimony, though Haller believes the message resonated.

During the break, Haller spots Cassandra Snow in the back of the gallery. He explains his strategy for her father’s wrongful conviction case: first approaching the district attorney’s Conviction Integrity Unit as the fastest route to release, then potentially federal court. Cassie worries about the DA being Haller’s ex-wife, but he assures her that Maggie McPherson’s platform supports reviewing such cases. Back at the plaintiff’s table, Haller tells Brenda about the revised witness order and reflects anxiously on gambling everything on an undeposed final witness.

Haller calls Michael Spindler, establishing his credentials as a Caltech professor, former head of Google’s AI lab, and AI optimist. Spindler explains AI history, including Eliza, a real-life 1960s chatbot that demonstrated what has since become known as the Eliza effect: people’s tendency to attribute human emotions to machines. Spindler testifies that AI operates on a “garbage in, garbage out” (306) principle—repeating previous witnesses’ assertions that biased programming produces biased output. After reviewing the case materials, Spindler has concluded Wren’s code contained bias from a largely male development team, including generational gaps and misogynistic attitudes.

Haller displays again the text exchange where Wren wrote the word “hERo” with capitalized “E” and “R” (310). Spindler has found this specific formatting in online incel glossaries. Mitchell Mason objects and moves for mistrial, but at sidebar, Haller argues the defense failed to research their own witness adequately. Judge Ruhlin overrules the objection. Spindler explains that the term “incel” refers to “involuntary celibates”—an online subculture of men expressing hatred and violence toward women. The capitalized “ER” references Elliot Rodger, a real-life mass murderer who claimed to be taking revenge on women and who is revered as a hero in incel communities.

The defense reserves cross-examination of Spindler for later. Court ends early because the defense’s decision not to cross-examine Spindler moves up the schedule, and Haller’s next witness, Nathan Whittaker, is not yet at the courthouse. Judge Ruhlin admonishes Haller and adjourns. That evening, Haller receives an email summoning all counsel to an 8:00 o’clock morning meeting.

The next morning, Judge Ruhlin announces that one of the jurors tested positive for COVID. Marcus Mason moves for mistrial, but Haller proposes recessing until Monday to see if other jurors become ill. The judge agrees. At the warehouse, Haller directs the team: Cisco should investigate Whittaker, Jack should keep digging, and Lorna should schedule a meeting with the DA’s Conviction Integrity Unit for the David Snow case. Haller works on Snow’s habeas petition.

The Masons arrive with Victor Wendt, the reclusive billionaire owner of Tidalwaiv, and bodyguards. Wendt asks to speak privately. In Haller’s office, Wendt opens a briefcase containing $2 million in cash—a bribe to convince Brenda to accept the $50 million settlement. Wendt mentions Maggie McPherson’s financial struggles and claims Haller’s cameras won’t record his visit so Haller has no evidence of this bribe offer. Haller angrily refuses the bribe. Wendt threatens that even if Haller wins, appeals will ensure Brenda never receives payment. After Wendt leaves, Haller tells Lorna the billionaire likely disabled their cameras before arriving.

Friday morning, Haller meets Ali Adebayo, head of the district attorney’s Conviction Integrity Unit. Maggie McPherson, also present, acts distantly toward Haller for not approaching her directly. Haller explains the original medical evidence from David Snow’s case disappeared when appellate attorney Joel Firestone died years ago. Adebayo seems unconvinced as he pages through Haller’s documents.

Judge Ruhlin’s clerk calls, summoning Haller to chambers immediately and instructing him to bring his investigator. At the courthouse, the Masons are already with the judge. Ruhlin shows them an anonymously submitted video: Cisco arriving at a house and being met at the door by the juror who tested positive for COVID—the same Black woman whom the Masons initially attempted to reject from the jury. The judge accuses Haller’s team of jury tampering. Haller argues it’s a setup, noting the camera was positioned before Cisco arrived, clearly by someone who knew to expect him. He accuses the Masons or Wendt of orchestrating it, referencing the previous day’s bribe attempt. The judge summons Cisco to chambers.

Cisco enters chambers unaware of the situation. After viewing the video, he explains he followed an anonymous, encrypted WhatsApp tip about a witness nicknamed Wiseacre. He did not recognize the woman as a juror and left when she claimed to know nothing about any meeting. Judge Ruhlin examines the texts on Cisco’s phone. Cisco states they came from an untraceable burner. The judge dismisses him, satisfied with his explanation.

Haller argues the defense have always opposed the juror and could now succeed in removing her through deception. Marcus Mason insists she is tainted. Judge Ruhlin decides to question the juror when she is healthy and will rule Monday morning. Haller raises concerns about other jurors potentially being surveilled. The judge asks Haller to explain his earlier bribery allegation. He details Wendt’s $2-million-dollar cash offer. Marcus denies any bribe attempt occurred. The judge dismisses everyone until Monday.

In the empty courtroom, Cisco briefly wonders if Haller set him up, but Haller convinces him it was Wendt’s team. Alone, Haller gazes at the empty jury box—his proving ground—feeling that nothing in the law remains sacred anymore.

Haller arrives home to find Maggie drinking wine on the back deck. She informs him the district attorney’s office is rejecting David Snow’s petition. Their reasoning: Osteogenesis imperfecta was a known medical condition at the time of the original trial, so it does not constitute new evidence. Haller protests that the specific genetic test wasn’t available then, but Maggie remains firm. She tells him he must live with the mistakes he made as a young lawyer, just as all attorneys do. Haller is devastated, recognizing this rejection is effectively a death sentence for Snow.

Haller and Maggie maintain distance over the weekend. Saturday, Haller and Jack McEvoy prepare for Nathan Whittaker’s testimony. That evening, Haller and Maggie dine at Musso and Frank Grill. Maggie suggests moving out. Haller asks her to stay, viewing their challenges—including the Snow case—as tests of their relationship’s strength.

Sunday night, Haller meets Cassandra Snow for dinner. He delivers the bad news about the petition’s rejection. His new plan involves filing in federal court while simultaneously taking the story to the media to pressure the district attorney’s office. McEvoy has a contact at 60 Minutes. Though Cassie questions whether anyone cares about such TV shows anymore, Haller argues that even limited coverage would force the DA’s office to reconsider. Cassie agrees to participate.

Monday morning, Judge Ruhlin meets privately with the potentially tainted juror. At 10:00 o’clock, she announces the juror tested negative for COVID, was not tainted by contact with Cisco, and will remain on the panel. Ruhlin denies the defense mistrial motion.

Haller calls Nathan Whittaker to the stand. Whittaker, a 33-year-old AI programmer at Tidalwaiv, worked on Project Clair for seven years. He is immediately combative and evasive. Haller establishes that Whittaker was transferred off the project approximately a month after the Randolph lawsuit was filed. Whittaker insists the transfer was unrelated to litigation, though his rehearsed responses sound defensive. Haller asks if he was removed to hide him from scrutiny; Whittaker angrily denies it.

After heated exchanges, the judge calls sidebar and warns both sides about controlling tempers, then calls for a 15-minute recess. During the break, Brenda asks if Whittaker is responsible. Haller believes so, and he hopes to win via his rotten-apple theory: Demonstrating one coder’s carelessness will spoil Tidalwaiv’s entire case.

Court resumes with Haller questioning Whittaker about his social media activity, specifically Reddit posts under the username “wiseacre23.” Whittaker is evasive until Haller produces a company newsletter photo showing him wearing a softball jersey with “Wiseacre” and the number “23.” Cornered, Whittaker admits using the username.

Haller displays a Reddit post where Whittaker used the acronym GIGO—garbage in, garbage out—explaining that bad programming and programmer biases create flawed products. Whittaker denies having biases or allowing them into his code. Haller asks if Whittaker frequents real-life incel websites like 4chan, 8kun, or a defunct fictional site called Dirty-four. Whittaker denies knowing what they are. Haller asks if the number 23 references the date of the Elliot Rodger killings. The Masons object. The judge sends the jury to an early lunch and calls counsel to chambers.

Haller reveals he has evidence linking wiseacre23 to misogynistic websites and a digital linguistics expert comparing the posts. He explains Dirty-four was a dark-web site shut down by law enforcement after being linked to murders. The Masons are stunned. Judge Ruhlin recesses until the next morning so the defense can confer with their client. In the empty courtroom, Haller hands the Masons a draft motion to call the AI Wren as a witness. He demands $52 million plus a public apology to settle.

A press conference convenes on the courthouse steps. Haller delayed it until confirming the $52 million had reached his client escrow account. Ellen Bromley, Tidalwaiv’s damage-control representative, reads a corporate statement including the apology Haller insisted upon: “We failed here and deeply apologize” (369). A freelance videographer nicknamed Sticks asks why they settled mid-trial. Mitchell Mason gives a noncommittal response about weighing risks. Asked whether Whittaker is still employed by Tidalwaiv, Bromley states they will review testimony and take appropriate action.

Brenda speaks, announcing she is establishing the Rebecca Randolph Center for Technological Oversight, with Jack McEvoy as director. After the conference, Haller confirms with Sticks that footage will go to CNN, thanks him for asking Haller’s suggested questions, and discreetly pays him $500. Reporter Pete Demetriou gets a sound bite in which Haller emphasizes the case was about accountability, not money. Haller, Jack, and Brenda part ways in the courthouse garage. Brenda is now wealthy beyond imagination but still grieving deeply.

The team celebrates at the Redbird bar. Haller feels underwhelmed by the settlement’s lack of a jury verdict. He announces million-dollar bonuses for Lorna, Cisco, and Jack. Jack reveals the foundation will have an advisory board with all three invited. Haller receives word that CNN’s Jake Tapper wants him and Brenda on his show. Judge Ruhlin’s clerk calls, summoning Haller to meet with jurors the next morning.

Haller leaves for home, planning to discuss rebuilding Maggie’s house and their future. He finds Victor Wendt waiting on his porch. Wendt offers a two-year, $5.2 million personal services contract to serve as his legal advisor. Haller recognizes it as a buyout preventing future lawsuits. He refuses, telling Wendt that accepting would mean “I'd be lost. As a lawyer and as a man” (379). Wendt departs, and Haller feels good about his decision.

Haller meets Judge Ruhlin and four jurors who confirm they were ready to rule decisively for the plaintiff. After they leave, the judge tells Haller he is welcome in her court anytime, and she will continue holding his contempt citation in abeyance. As Haller exits the courthouse, Sergeant Tamar from the California Health Care Facility calls to inform him that David Snow died that morning in the medical center. Haller is stunned into silence. He agrees to notify Cassie and handle all arrangements.

Haller reflects that while there was no realistic way to free Snow in such a short time, Snow should never have been imprisoned—a failure that rests on him from two decades earlier. Unlike yesterday’s victory, this loss will continue haunting him. There will be no redemption. He resolves to go to Cassie, accept responsibility, and somehow find the strength to continue fighting despite this devastating blow.