All Rise: A Courtroom Drama with Heart, Representation, and Resilience

Premiering in 2019 on CBS, All Rise quickly set itself apart from traditional legal dramas. Instead of focusing solely on lawyers or police, the series centered on the day-to-day lives of judges, prosecutors, public defenders, and clerks working within the bustling Los Angeles County court system. With a diverse cast and timely storylines, the show aimed to humanize the legal process while addressing the flaws within it.

The Premise

All Rise follows Judge Lola Carmichael (played by Simone Missick), a former prosecutor who brings empathy, integrity, and compassion to the bench. Unlike many judges portrayed in television dramas, Lola approaches her role with a desire to be fair and just, often going the extra mile to understand the people whose lives are impacted by the court system.

The series balances her professional responsibilities with her personal relationships, while also weaving in the stories of colleagues and friends working alongside her, all navigating the pressures and complexities of the justice system.

The Cast

The show features an ensemble cast that reflects the diversity of Los Angeles:

Simone Missick as Judge Lola Carmichael, the heart of the series.
Wilson Bethel as Mark Callan, a prosecutor and Lola’s best friend, whose perspective often clashes with hers in court.
Jessica Camacho as Emily Lopez, a passionate public defender determined to fight for marginalized clients.
Marg Helgenberger as Judge Lisa Benner, a mentor figure in the courthouse.
Ruthie Ann Miles as Sherri Kansky, Lola’s pragmatic and witty judicial assistant.
Lindsay Mendez as Sara Castillo, a courtroom clerk and loyal friend to Emily.
J. Alex Brinson as Luke Watkins, a bailiff with ambitions to rise within the legal profession.

What Made All Rise Stand Out

Focus on Judges: Most legal dramas revolve around defense attorneys or prosecutors. All Rise stood out by spotlighting judges, giving viewers a behind-the-scenes look at how decisions are made from the bench.

Socially Relevant Storylines: The series tackled issues such as immigration, racial bias, police misconduct, domestic violence, and the flaws of mass incarceration — all while grounding the stories in human emotion rather than sensationalism.

Representation: All Rise broke barriers by featuring Simone Missick as the first Black woman to lead a network legal drama as a judge. The show’s diverse cast reflected the communities most impacted by the justice system.

Real-World Resonance: During the COVID-19 pandemic, All Rise produced a groundbreaking “virtual” episode in which the characters conducted a hearing over video calls, capturing the challenges courts faced in real life.

Behind-the-Scenes Challenges and Cancellation

Despite its strong debut and loyal fanbase, All Rise faced turbulence. After two seasons, CBS canceled the show in 2021, citing declining ratings. Around the same time, reports of behind-the-scenes conflict and creative differences surfaced, further complicating its future.

However, fans were not ready to let the show go. In a surprising turn, All Rise was revived by OWN (Oprah Winfrey Network) for a third season in 2022, giving the series a second chance to tell its stories and continue Lola’s journey on the bench.

Unfortunately, even after its revival, the show eventually ended for good in 2023 after three seasons, leaving viewers with a bittersweet farewell to characters they had come to love.

The Legacy of All Rise

While it may not have reached the long-running heights of courtroom staples like Law & Order, All Rise carved out a special place in the genre. Its legacy lies in its dedication to humanizing the legal system, showcasing underrepresented voices, and tackling socially relevant issues with care.

Simone Missick’s Lola Carmichael became an inspirational figure, reminding audiences that even within an imperfect system, there are individuals striving to make it more just.

For fans, All Rise was more than just a legal drama — it was a story about resilience, friendship, and the fight for fairness in a system where justice is not always equal.