Marshall and his old (now former) friend Brad face off in the most important court case of Marshall's career. Brad uses his sex appeal to win over the judge and jury.
This episode provides examples of:
- Artistic License – Law: Marshall's trial of a corrupt pharmaceutical company doesn't really bear much resemblance to actual trials. Both lawyers make impromptu speeches to the jury, only one (comically unqualified) witness is called and blatantly silly non-evidence is admitted and accepted without protest. Some of it is Hand Waved by the defense attorney's good looks and excellent body (the judge and jury are in love with him), but mostly the trial is run in the way the writers find most amusing.
- Also, the Framing Device of Marshall's appearance before the Judiciary Committee is an inaccurate portrayal of New York's judicial system. While the episode reveals that Marshall is applying to become a trial court judge, these judges are elected rather than appointed. And in any case, judges in New York's higher courts who are appointed are appointed by the Governor, not a committee of other judges.
- There's also no such thing as the "New York State Judiciary Committee". There are two Judiciary Committees, one each in New York's State Assembly and Senate, and those are filled by state legislators, not judges.
- Bait-and-Switch: Marshall's appearance before the Judiciary committee at first looks like a hearing about a misconduct he had committed during the trial, but at the end, it's revealed that Marshall is actually applying to be a judge.
- Distracted by the Sexy: Brad's strategy to win the case is to use his massive biceps and well-shot music videos to woo the jury in his favor.
- Hoist by His Own Petard: Brad takes a swim in Frog Lake to prove it's not polluted. Marshall wins the case by showing the jury the rash Brad incurred from doing so.
- Shout-Out:
- The title and Marshall's presentation to the judges refer to 12 Angry Men.
- The flashback to 1994 shows Lily wearing a black coat with children shouting "Lily comin'", complete with a whistled rendition of "The Farmer in the Dell".
