"People v. Rabb" is an episode of JAG that first aired on November 25, 1997. Directed by Greg Beeman. Written by Larry Moskowitz.
Rabb buys Russian documents from Colonel Parlovsky (Vladimir Skomarovsky) of the now Russian Army. In a confrontation, a man is shot. Rabb is accused of murder. Imes (Dana Sparks) defends, Mattoni (Rif Hutton) prosecutes.
Agent Webb (Steven Culp) helps Rabb escape from the brig, but Rabb is soon apprehended again. Rabb refuses a plea bargain and fires Imes in favor of Sarah MacKenzie, who ditches her duties at Lowell, Hanson & Lowne. Sarah demonstrates that Rabb did not fire the gun but tried to wrest it away from the actual shooter.
The judge rules the matter need not be referred to court-martial. Sarah asks Chegwidden to let her come back to JAG. Chegwidden says he never processed her resignation.
This episode is neither the first nor the last time Rabb is accused of murder.
Tropes
- Call-Back: At one point, Rabb disguises himself by putting on the Marine uniform he wore while undercover in "Force Recon".
- Clear My Name: Rabb, accused of murder.
- Driving Question: Harmon Rabb, Jr. must find what happened to his father, holding out hope Rabb père might still be alive. What Rabb Jr. has discovered so far suggests Rabb Sr. was shot down over Vietnam and was then taken to Siberia.
- Great Escape: Averted. Rabb escapes custody (with Webb's help) only to be apprehended again.
- IKEA Weaponry: Webb smuggles a gun into the brig for Rabb by hiding the parts inside several items in his briefcase, then reassembling it while meeting with Rabb in an interview room.
- Unprocessed Resignation: Admiral Chegwidden with Major MacKenzie's resignation. Her time in private practice was essentially just leave from the military (she mentioned in the previous episode she had 45 days of leave on the books).
