‘Night Court’ Recap: ‘Justice Buddies’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

NIGHT COURT -- “Justice Buddies” Episode 106 -- Pictured: (l-r) JeCobi Swain as Xavier, Lacretta as Donna Gurgs -- (Photo by: Jordin Althaus/NBC)

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Six of ‘Night Court’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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One thing that we can all agree upon, is that our faith in the legal system is not as strong as it once was, and it makes sense as to why. After all, there are now injustices on camera, the kind that have left us stunned at the power that some exert when their job is to serve and protect. Not to mention, the courts are of concern as well. Since judges tend to hand out ridiculous sentences for crimes that don’t deserve such punishment and of course… the Supreme Court has now shown itself to be a partisan institution, instead of one that works within precedent and the letter of the law. All of which has left us shaking our heads as to what the system has become and wondering… how do we improve the legal system so people hold faith in it once again.
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Well as it turns out, the next episode of Night Court on NBC, took the time ponder upon what that might take and that made ‘Justice Buddies’ quite the powerful tale. One that didn’t seem as though it was going to ponder upon something this deep. For early on in this tale, we watched this team deal with young visitors in the court. One of whom was related to Gurgs and he wanted desperately for his friends to see what the judicial system looked like so they could potentially explore a career path in law. Of course, the team welcomed them into the courtroom, and even enjoyed a little sparring and help from them, only to learn in a surprise move to everyone but Gurgs, since she got some advance notice, that their time here was nothing more than a ruse. One designed to protest a case that Abby had no choice but to follow the letter of the law to. 

Which brought forth, a stunning protest in the courtroom. Where these young kids made it clear that the system was broken and badly needed fixing and well… that left Abby in quite the difficult place. Because eventually, there would be no choice but to report this situation and levy charges and that just seemed superfluous for something as simple as a protest with kids. But alas, any attempts to quell this didn’t work, and even Gurgs decided to stand with her family and the moment, because the kids were right and confession from the guilty party or no… the laws were too harsh on the defendant’s crime, which involved public art. And that’s really where the story began to explore the flaws of the system and how we change it. 

As it turned out, the story postulated the theory… that if the silence that often exists from law enforcement and officers of the court regarding the problems the system is facing, was broken, and those same people spoke to the flaws of the system and admitted it needs improvement, then perhaps people would listen. Listen and understand it is a system run by people, and people are of course flawed but can make changes happen, and that might soften some stances, and what also might help would be some of these folks talking about why they do this. Because all we see right now, are power hungry folks enjoying their status, but to hear from actual working civil servants… that they do this for something more, might give us hope that down the line, they will replace the inept that stand behind their title. 

Which are solutions… that likely won’t satisfy those that are staunchly against the system as it stands, and that’s okay. But let’s be honest… we aren’t talking much about solutions now. We just want reform and that’s fine and that’s just and right, but we need to start somewhere, we need to think of something, and at least we are given something here to inspire us. That makes this, one intelligent and poignant episode, one that once again… hammered home its lesson through great comedy. Since it was hilarious to see Olivia feud with a thirteen-year-old over career paths and choices, and the same goes for Neil’s storyline involving him getting dating advice from someone of that same age and well, in the end, all this episode does… is remind us of how brilliant this new-boot truly is. Because it continues to be intelligent and hilarious and fun, and it will be wonderful to see what kind of quality story awaits us come next week, when court is back in session. Until then.

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