Main •
Simone Missick as Lola Carmichael, an idealistic former prosecutor and newly appointed judge of the
Los Angeles County Superior Court. In her new role, she immediately pushing the boundaries and challenging the expectations of what a judge can be. Lola is married to Robin Taylor, an FBI agent, and gives birth to their first baby in season 2, Bailey. She was arrested during a Black Lives Matter protest for defending a girl who was being threatened and was about to be arrested without reason. •
Wilson Bethel as Mark Callan, a deputy district attorney in the
Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office and Lola's best friend. Mark is in a relationship with Amy Quinn. He came under scrutiny in season 2 for going after the LA Sheriff's office for a wrongful shooting. He is promoted to chief deputy district attorney in season 3. •
Jessica Camacho as Emily Lopez (formerly Emily Lopez-Batista), an attorney with the
Los Angeles County Public Defender's office who is in a relationship with Luke Watkins. • J. Alex Brinson as Luke Watkins, a four-year deputy sheriff working as a court
bailiff to Judge Charmichael while attending law school. He joins the district attorneys office after passing the bar in season 2 and later joins the public defenders office in season 3. He is in a relationship with Emily Lopez. •
Lindsay Mendez as Sara Castillo, a
court reporter and friend of Emily Lopez. She moves to the DA office as a victim's advocate in season 3. •
Ruthie Ann Miles as Sherri Kansky, an experienced judge's assistant assigned to new Judge Lola Carmichael despite their difficult relationship. •
Marg Helgenberger as Lisa Benner (seasons 1–2; special guest season 3), a veteran supervisory judge in the HOJ who is a mentor to Lola. She is later confirmed as a Justice to the California Court of Appeal which she transfers to in season 3. •
Lindsey Gort as Amy Quinn (seasons 2–3; recurring season 1), a high-powered criminal defense attorney who shares a complicated history with Mark and who also later becomes Mark's girlfriend. Amy leaves her law firm to join Rachel's law firm. She and Mark get engaged at the end of season 2 and married in the Series Finale. • Audrey Corsa as Samantha Powell (season 2; recurring season 1), a clerk for the LA County DA's office who works with Mark and Luke •
Reggie Lee as Thomas Choi (season 2; recurring season 1; guest season 3), the chief deputy district attorney and Mark's supervisor. He is promoted and transferred to Pomona in between seasons 2 and 3.
Recurring •
Mitch Silpa as Clayton Berger (season 1; guest season 2–3), a hard-charging deputy district attorney who clashes with Lola •
Tony Denison as Vic Callan (season 1; guest seasons 2–3), Mark's father and a small-time bookie who gives Mark a hard time •
Paul McCrane as Jonas Laski (seasons 1–2; guest season 3), a conservative judge known as the "Punisher". He dislikes Mark for apparently injuring him during a game of hockey and has since always given Mark a difficult time prosecuting in his courtroom. •
Suzanne Cryer as Maggie Palmer (seasons 1–2; guest season 3), an old colleague of Lola's and current deputy district attorney who accuses her of bias towards defendants. •
Todd Williams (seasons 1–2) and
Christian Keyes (season 3) as Robin Taylor, Lola's husband who works for the
FBI. • Joe Williamson as Kevin Harris (season 1; guest season 2), a LAPD detective and romantic interest for Sherri •
Peter MacNicol as Albert Campbell (seasons 1–2), a judge who is one of Lola's colleagues •
Ryan Michelle Bathe as Rachel Audubon (seasons 1–2; special guest season 3), a rare powerhouse attorney who can handle both civil litigation and criminal law and who has known Lola since they were in
Howard University together and has been best friends with Mark since they were in law school together. She goes to Los Angeles to start her own law firm known as Audubon and Associates, later renamed Audubon, Quinn, and Associates in season 3, after she makes Amy Quinn a partner. •
Patricia Rae as Abigail Delgado (seasons 1–3), a judge who is one of Lola's colleagues •
Nicholas Christopher as David Sanders (seasons 1-3), Judge Benner's former campaign manager •
L. Scott Caldwell as Roxy Robinson (seasons 1–2), Lola's mother. •
Brent Jennings as Charles Carmichael (seasons 1, 3), Lola's father •
Bret Harrison as Ben Benner (season 1), Judge Benner's son and Sara's boyfriend •
Rebecca Field as Carol Coleman (season 2; guest seasons 1, 3) •
Samantha Marie Ware as Ness Johnson (seasons 2–3), Lola's new law clerk. She later joins Audubon, Quinn, and Associates in season 3. •
Shalim Ortiz as Joaquin Luna (season 2) •
Ian Anthony Dale as Louis Bravo (seasons 2–3), the
Los Angeles County District Attorney •
Steven Williams as Tony Carver (season 2; guest seasons 1, 3) •
Louis Herthum as Wayne McCarthy (season 2), a corrupt sheriff responsible for encouraging and covering up police misconduct among his deputies. He believes that it is ok for police to bend or break the law for their benefit because of their badge and self sacrifices for the job. •
Anne Heche as Corrine Cuthbert (season 2; guest season 3) A police union representative and a defense attorney who represented Deputy Rashel and Sheriff Wayne McCarthy. She adamantly believes that McCarthy was not guilty of any of his crimes, and she repeatedly denies whenever policemen are accused/guilty of misconduct or illegal acts. She and McCarthy seemingly both believe that it is ok for police to bend or break the law for their benefit because of their badge and self sacrifices for the job. •
Ashley Jones as Whitney Gessner (season 2) • Nev Scharrel as Nikki Gessner (season 2) •
Rick Fox as August Fox (season 2) •
Roger Guenveur Smith as Marshall Thomas (season 3), a judge • Ronak Gandhi as Teddy Biswas (season 3) •
Sean Blakemore as André Armstrong (season 3)
Notable guest stars •
Colin Ford as Billy Webb ("Fool for Liv") •
Jere Burns as Adam Pryce, an over-theatrical attorney to several Hollywood stars. ("Fool for Liv", "Bette Davis Eyes") •
Ever Carradine as Felice Bell, Lola's old nemesis from her days as a district attorney. ("How to Succeed in Law Without Really Re-trying") •
Alicia Coppola as Wanda Taylor ("What the Constitution Greens to Me") •
Brenda Strong as Jean Rubenstein-Frost, Judge Benner's lawyer ex-girlfriend. ("My Fair Lockdown") •
Dorian Missick as Tailwind Turner ("Dancing at Los Angeles"), a DJ •
Tyler Barnhardt as Jesse Frost ("A Changes Is Gonna Come" and "Keep Ya Head Up") •
Robyn Lively as Nancy Frost ("A Changes Is Gonna Come" and "Keep Ya Head Up") •
Joel Gretsch as Frank Frost ("A Changes Is Gonna Come" and "Keep Ya Head Up") •
Lesley Ann Warren as Samara Strong, an actress whom Mark idolized whom he prosecutes for the murder of her husband ("Bette Davis Eyes") •
Amy Acker as Georgia Jennings ("Georgia" and "Leap of Faith") •
Ray Wise as Richard Walker ("Georgia") •
Sarah Levy as Debbie Daines ("Georgia") •
Charlayne Woodard as Prudence Jenkins ("Caught Up in Circles"), a judge ==Episodes==