# List of Law & Order characters

The American television police procedural and legal drama Law & Order (1990–2010 & 2022–present) follows the fictional cases of a group of police detectives and prosecutors who represent the public in the criminal justice system. Law & Order is known for its revolving cast, as most of its original stars had left the show within the first five seasons. The longest serving main cast members of the original series include Jerry Orbach as Det. Lennie Briscoe (1992–2004), S. Epatha Merkerson as Lt. Anita Van Buren (1993–2010) and Sam Waterston as EADA/DA Jack McCoy (1994–2010 & 2022–2024).

## Characters

| Name | Portrayed by | Position | Seasons | Seasons | Seasons | Seasons | Seasons | Seasons | Seasons | Seasons | Seasons | Seasons | Seasons | Seasons | Seasons | Seasons | Seasons | Seasons | Seasons | Seasons | Seasons | Seasons | Seasons | Seasons | Seasons | Seasons | Seasons |
| Name | Portrayed by | Position | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | M | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 |
| Max Greevey | George Dzundza | Sergeant | M | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear |
| Mike Logan | Chris Noth | Jr. Detective | Main | Main | Main | Main | Main | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | M | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear |
| Donald Cragen | Dann Florek | Captain | Main | Main | Main | Does not appear | G | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | M | G | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | G | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear |
| Ben Stone | Michael Moriarty | EADA | Main | Main | Main | Main | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear |
| Paul Robinette | Richard Brooks | ADA | Main | Main | Main | Does not appear | Does not appear | G | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | G | G | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear |
| Adam Schiff | Steven Hill | DA | Main | Main | Main | Main | Main | Main | Main | Main | Main | Does not appear | M | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear |
| Phil Cerreta | Paul Sorvino | Sergeant | Does not appear | M | M | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear |
| Elizabeth Olivet | Carolyn McCormick | Psychologist | Does not appear | R | A | A | Recurring | Recurring | Recurring | Does not appear | G | Does not appear | G | Does not appear | Does not appear | R | R | G | Recurring | Recurring | Recurring | G | G | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear |
| Lennie Briscoe | Jerry Orbach | Sr. Detective | Does not appear | Does not appear | Main | Main | Main | Main | Main | Main | Main | Main | Main | Main | Main | Main | Main | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear |
| Anita Van Buren | S. Epatha Merkerson | Lieutenant | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Main | Main | Main | Main | Main | Main | Main | Main | Main | Main | Main | Main | Main | Main | Main | Main | Main | Main | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear |
| Claire Kincaid | Jill Hennessy | ADA | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Main | Main | Main | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear |
| Jack McCoy | Sam Waterston | EADA Interim DA DA | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Main | Main | Main | Main | Main | Main | Main | Main | Main | Main | Main | Main | Main | Main | Main | Main | Main | Main | Main | Main | Does not appear |
| Rey Curtis | Benjamin Bratt | Jr. Detective | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Main | Main | Main | Main | Main | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | G | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear |
| Jamie Ross | Carey Lowell | ADA | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | M | M | Does not appear | Does not appear | G | G | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | G | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear |
| Abbie Carmichael | Angie Harmon | ADA | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | M | Does not appear | M | M | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear |
| Ed Green | Jesse L. Martin | Jr. Detective Sr. Detective | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Main | Main | Main | Main | Main | Main | Main | Main | Main | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear |
| Nora Lewin | Dianne Wiest | Interim DA | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | M | M | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear |
| Serena Southerlyn | Elisabeth Röhm | ADA | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Main | Main | Main | Main | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear |
| Arthur Branch | Fred Thompson | DA | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Main | Main | Main | Main | Main | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear |
| Joe Fontana | Dennis Farina | Sr. Detective | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | M | M | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear |
| Nick Falco | Michael Imperioli | Jr. Detective | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | M | G | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear |
| Alexandra Borgia | Annie Parisse | ADA | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | M | M | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear |
| Nina Cassady | Milena Govich | Jr. Detective | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | M | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear |
| Connie Rubirosa | Alana de la Garza | ADA | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Main | Main | Main | Main | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear |
| Cyrus Lupo | Jeremy Sisto | Jr. Detective Sr. Detective | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Main | Main | Main | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear |
| Michael Cutter | Linus Roache | EADA | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Main | Main | Main | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear |
| Kevin Bernard | Anthony Anderson | Jr. Detective Sr. Detective | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Main | Main | Main | Main | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear |
| Frank Cosgrove | Jeffrey Donovan | Jr. Detective Sr. Detective | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | M | M | Does not appear | Does not appear |
| Kate Dixon | Camryn Manheim | Lieutenant | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Main | Main | Main | Does not appear |
| Nolan Price | Hugh Dancy | EADA | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Main | Main | Main | Main |
| Samantha Maroun | Odelya Halevi | ADA | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Main | Main | Main | Main |
| Jalen Shaw | Mehcad Brooks | Jr. Detective Sr. Detective | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Main | Main | Main |
| Vincent Riley | Reid Scott | Jr. Detective | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | M | M |
| Nicholas Baxter | Tony Goldwyn | DA | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | M | M |
| Jessica Brady | Maura Tierney | Lieutenant | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | M | M |

## Main characters

| Actor | Character | Rank/Position | Seasons | Seasons | Seasons | Notes |
| Actor | Character | Rank/Position | Regular | Recurring | Guest | Notes |
| George Dzundza | Max Greevey | Senior Detective/Sergeant | 1 | | | |
| Chris Noth | Mike Logan | Junior Detective | 1–5 | | | Appeared in Exiled |
| Dann Florek | Donald Cragen | Captain | 1–3 | | 5, 10 & 15 | Appeared in Exiled |
| Michael Moriarty | Ben Stone | EADA | 1–4 | | | |
| Richard Brooks | Paul Robinette | ADA | 1–3 | | 6, 16 & 17 | |
| Steven Hill | Adam Schiff | DA | 1–10 | | | |
| Paul Sorvino | Phil Cerreta | Senior Detective Sergeant | 2 & 3 | | | |
| Jerry Orbach | Lennie Briscoe | Senior Detective | 3–14 | | | Appeared in Exiled |
| Carolyn McCormick | Elizabeth Olivet | Psychologist | 3 & 4 | 5–7, 13, 14 & 16–18 | 2, 9, 10, 19 & 20 | |
| S. Epatha Merkerson | Anita Van Buren | Lieutenant | 4–20 | | | Appeared in Exiled |
| Jill Hennessy | Claire Kincaid | ADA | 4–6 | | | |
| Sam Waterston | Jack McCoy | EADA, Interim DA & DA | 5–23 | | | Appeared in Exiled |
| Benjamin Bratt | Rey Curtis | Junior Detective | 6–9 | | 20 | Appeared in Exiled |
| Carey Lowell | Jamie Ross | ADA | 7 & 8 | | 10, 11 & 21 | |
| Angie Harmon | Abbie Carmichael | ADA | 9–11 | | | |
| Jesse L. Martin | Ed Green | Junior Detective, Senior Detective | 10–18 | | | |
| Dianne Wiest | Nora Lewin | Interim DA | 11 & 12 | | | |
| Elisabeth Röhm | Serena Southerlyn | ADA | 12–15 | | | |
| Fred Dalton Thompson | Arthur Branch | DA | 13–17 | | | |
| Dennis Farina | Joe Fontana | Senior Detective | 15 & 16 | | | |
| Annie Parisse | Alexandra Borgia | ADA | 15 & 16 | | |
| Michael Imperioli | Nick Falco | Junior Detective | 15 | | 16 | Temporarily assigned |
| Milena Govich | Nina Cassady | Junior Detective | 17 | | | |
| Alana de la Garza | Connie Rubirosa | ADA | 17–20 | | | |
| Jeremy Sisto | Cyrus Lupo | Junior Detective, Senior Detective | 18–20 | | | |
| Linus Roache | Michael Cutter | EADA | 18–20 | | | |
| Anthony Anderson | Kevin Bernard | Junior Detective, Senior Detective | 18–21 | | | |
| Jeffrey Donovan | Frank Cosgrove | Junior Detective, Senior Detective | 21 & 22 | | | |
| Camryn Manheim | Kate Dixon | Lieutenant | 21–23 | | | |
| Hugh Dancy | Nolan Price | EADA | 21–present | | | |
| Odelya Halevi | Samantha Maroun | ADA | 21–present | | | |
| Mehcad Brooks | Jalen Shaw | Junior Detective, Senior Detective | 22–present | | | |
| Reid Scott | Vincent Riley | Junior Detective | 23–present | | | |
| Tony Goldwyn | Nicholas Baxter | DA | 23–present | | | |
| Maura Tierney | Jessica Brady | Lieutenant | 24–present | | | |

## Police officers
### Sergeants

| Name | Portrayed by | Year | Episodes | Junior Partners | Notes |
| Max Greevey | George Dzundza | 1990–1991 | 23 | Mike Logan | Murdered in 1991. [Note: The title card for the episode indicates his murder occurred on Friday, April 6th, which would mean he was murdered in 1990.] |
| Phil Cerreta | Paul Sorvino | 1991–1992 | 31 | Mike Logan | Transferred to a desk job at the 110th Precinct after being shot. |

### Senior detectives

| Name | Portrayed by | Year | Episodes | Junior Partners | Notes |
| Lennie Briscoe | Jerry Orbach | 1992–2004 | 273 | Mike Logan (1992–1995)Rey Curtis (1995–1999)Ed Green (1999–2004) | Retired (2004)Deceased (2005) (due to Jerry Orbach's death in December 2004). |
| Joe Fontana | Dennis Farina | 2004–2006 | 46 | Ed Green (2004–2006)Nick Falco (2005) | Retired (2006). |
| Ed Green | Jesse L. Martin | 2006–2008 | 198 | Nina Cassady (2006–2007)Cyrus Lupo (2008) | Promoted to Senior Detective (2006).Retired following his absolution during an IAB investigation (2008). |
| Cyrus Lupo | Jeremy Sisto | 2008–2010 | 63 | Kevin Bernard | Transferred from Intelligence Division (2008).Promoted to Senior Detective (2008). |
| Kevin Bernard | Anthony Anderson | 2022 | 60 | Frank Cosgrove | Transferred from IAB (2008)Promoted to Senior Detective (2022)Most likely retired, resigned or transferred (2022) |
| Frank Cosgrove | Jeffrey Donovan | 2022–2023 | 32 | Jalen Shaw | Promoted to Senior Detective (2022).Let go by IAB (2024) |
| Jalen Shaw | Mehcad Brooks | 2024– | TBD | Vincent Riley | Promoted to Senior Detective (2024). |

### Junior detectives

| Name | Portrayed by | Year | Episodes | Senior Partners | Notes |
| Mike Logan | Chris Noth | 1990–1995 | 111 | Max Greevey (1990–1991)Phil Cerreta (1991–1992)Lennie Briscoe (1992–1995) | Assigned to Staten Island from 1995 to 2005 after punching a homophobic politician.Solved a major murder & police corruption case in Exiled.Joined One Police Plaza's Major Case Squad 2005–2008.Retired after solving a cold case (CI: "Last Rites"). |
| Rey Curtis | Benjamin Bratt | 1995–1999 | 94 | Lennie Briscoe | Took early retirement so he could care for his ill wife (1999).Returned in 2009 to bury his deceased wife in New York. |
| Ed Green | Jesse L. Martin | 1999–2006 | 198 | Lennie Briscoe (1999–2004) Joe Fontana (2004–2006) | Promoted to Senior Detective (2006).Retired following his absolution during an IAB investigation (2008). |
| Nick Falco | Michael Imperioli | 2005 | 5 | Joe Fontana | Temporary replacement from Brooklyn for Ed Green, while Green was recovering from a gunshot wound.Appears again in 2006 as a murder suspect, but was later cleared. |
| Nina Cassidy | Milena Govich | 2006–2007 | 22 | Ed Green | Nicknamed "Detective Beauty Queen" after her involvement in a shooting that led to her promotion.Dismissed in 2007, although no reason is given on the show. |
| Cyrus Lupo | Jeremy Sisto | 2008 | 63 | Ed Green | Transferred from Intelligence Division (2008).Promoted to Senior Detective (2008). |
| Kevin Bernard | Anthony Anderson | 2008–2010 | 51 | Cyrus Lupo | Transferred from IAB (2008).Promoted to Senior Detective (2022).Most likely retired, resigned or transferred (2022). |
| Frank Cosgrove | Jeffrey Donovan | 2022 | 10 | Kevin Bernard | Promoted to Senior Detective (2022).Let go and jammed up by IAB (2024). |
| Jalen Shaw | Mehcad Brooks | 2022– | 22 | Frank Cosgrove | Transferred from another Homicide Division (2022).Promoted to Senior Detective (2024). |
| Vincent Riley | Reid Scott | 2024– | TBD | Jalen Shaw | Recruited by Lieutenant Kate Dixon (2024). |

### Supervising officers

| Name | Portrayed by | Rank | Year | Episodes | Notes |
| Donald Cragen | Dann Florek | Captain | 1990–1993 | 66 | Transferred to the Anti-Corruption Task Force and later to the Manhattan Special Victims Unit.Left the NYPD in 2014, taking a six month vacation that brought him up to the mandatory retirement age.Returned briefly in 2015 to help the SVU re-examine a decades-old rape case.Return in 2021 via video chat to help the SVU on a case.Returned in 2022 to assist Stabler in a case and in 2024. |
| Anita Van Buren | S. Epatha Merkerson | Lieutenant | 1993–2010 | 390 | Most likely retired (2010). |
| Kate Dixon | Camryn Manheim | Lieutenant | 2022–2024 | 45 | Tagged along with her son Patrick after he accepted a job offer in Miami (2024). |
| Jessica Brady | Maura Tierney | Lieutenant | 2024– | | Transferred from the 2-9 precinct (2024). |

## Prosecutors
### Executive Assistant District Attorneys

| Name | Portrayed by | Year | Partners | Episodes | Notes |
| Benjamin Stone | Michael Moriarty | 1990–1994 | Paul Robinette, Claire Kincaid | 88 | Resigns due to his feelings of guilt over the death of a witness whose safety he tried to guarantee.In 1996, Adam Schiff informs Jack McCoy that Stone is travelling in Europe.In 2018, an episode of Law & Order: SVU discusses his death, and shows his funeral. |
| Jack McCoy | Sam Waterston | 1994–2007 | Claire Kincaid, Jamie Ross, Abbie Carmichael, Serena Southerlyn, Alexandra Borgia, Connie Rubirosa | 405 | Promoted to interim New York County District Attorney (2008)Begins his campaign to be elected as Manhattan DA in 2009, with support from Adam SchiffEpisode count includes first 303 episodes as Executive Assistant DA, DA thereafter |
| Michael Cutter | Linus Roache | 2008–2010 | Connie Rubirosa | 63 | Promoted to Bureau Chief of the Sex Crimes Unit of the DA's office (2011). |
| Nolan Price | Hugh Dancy | 2022– | Samantha Maroun | TBD | |

### Assistant District Attorneys

| Name | Portrayed by | Year | Partners | Episodes | Notes |
| Paul Robinette | Richard Brooks | 1990–1993 | Ben Stone | 66 | Resigns to pursue private practice in 1993.Appears in three subsequent episodes as a defense attorney between 1996 and 2005. |
| Claire Kincaid | Jill Hennessy | 1993–1996 | Ben Stone, Jack McCoy | 68 | Dies in a car crash in 1996. |
| Jamie Ross | Carey Lowell | 1996–1998 | Jack McCoy | 48 | Former defense attorney who graduated from Columbia Law SchoolResigns to pursue private practice and to spend more time with her daughter (1998), whom she had a bitter custody battle for with her ex (Lowell requested to leave the show to spend more time with her daughter).Initially supported the death penalty, but eventually became an opponent.Reappears as a defense attorney in 1999 and 2001.Reappears as a judge in two episodes of Law & Order: Trial by Jury (2005).Reappears in season 21 episode "The Right Thing" (2022). |
| Abbie Carmichael | Angie Harmon | 1998–2001 | Jack McCoy | 72 | Resigns to accept a job at the United States Attorney General's Office (2001). |
| Serena Southerlyn | Elisabeth Röhm | 2001–2005 | Jack McCoy | 85 | Fired by Arthur Branch for being inappropriately sympathetic towards a defendant she was prosecuting (2005). |
| Alexandra Borgia | Annie Parisse | 2005–2006 | Jack McCoy | 34 | Dies after being kidnapped and beaten during a murder trial (2006). |
| Connie Rubirosa | Alana de la Garza | 2006–2010 | Jack McCoy, Michael Cutter | 85 | Moves to Los Angeles and joins the DA's office there as a DDA (2011).Later appears in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit as a federal prosecutor leading an investigation into an underage sex trafficking operation (2014). |
| Samantha Maroun | Odelya Halevi | 2022– | Nolan Price | TBD | |
* In the 1997 season 7 episode "We Like Mike", Caleb Duff is listed as Assistant District Attorney beneath Adam Schiff as District Attorney and John J. McCoy as Executive Assistant District Attorney at the New York County District Attorney's Office, though he never appears on screen.

### Manhattan District Attorneys

| Name | Portrayed by | Terms | Episodes | Notes |
| Alfred Wentworth | Roy Thinnes | 1988 | 1 | Only appears in "Everybody's Favorite Bagman" |
| Adam Schiff | Steven Hill | 1990–2000 | 228 | Leaves office to work overseas for The Holocaust Project with Simon Wiesenthal and to investigate Swiss banks (2000).Went with former President Jimmy Carter as part of a delegation to Zimbabwe (2008). |
| Nora Lewin | Dianne Wiest | 2000–2002 | 48 | Prior to her appointment as interim DA by the Governor of New York, she was a law professor (2000), which often provoked her critics to dismiss her as a detached academic with no practical experience.Chooses not to run for election following her interim term (2002)The first woman in the program's history to hold the position of New York County District Attorney. |
| Arthur Branch | Fred Thompson | 2002–2007 | 116 | Branch's departure, the reason for which was never specified on the series, occurred after Thompson announced his campaign for the Republican Party's 2008 nomination for President. |
| Jack McCoy | Sam Waterston | 2007–2010 & 2022–2024 | 405 | Appointed Interim DA after Branch's departure in 2007.Begins his election campaign to become DA in 2009, winning the election that year.Episode count includes first 303 episodes as Executive Assistant DA. |
| Nicholas Baxter | Tony Goldwyn | 2024– | TBD | Appointed District Attorney after the departure of Jack McCoy. |

## Other main characters

| Name | Portrayed by | Years | Episodes |
| Psychologist Dr. Elizabeth Olivet | Carolyn McCormick | 1991–1997, 1999 & 2002–2009 | 87 |
| Medical Examiner Dr. Elizabeth Rodgers | Leslie Hendrix | 1992–2010 | 139 |
| Psychiatrist Dr. Emil Skoda | J. K. Simmons | 1997–2004 & 2010 | 44 |

## Recurring characters
### NYPD personnel
#### NYPD officials

| Name | Portrayed by | Year | Episodes |
| Chief of Detectives Laird | James Biberi | 2008–2010 | 3 |
| Borough Detective Commander Joseph Strudevant | Dan Lauria | 2000–2001 | 2 |
| Borough Chief Commander James Dietz | Michael Cullen | 1998–1999 | 3 |

#### 27th Precinct support detectives

| Name | Portrayed by | Year | Episodes |
| Detective Tony Profaci | John Fiore | 1990–1998 | 53 and Exiled |
| Detective Gia | Gia Galeano | 1994, 1995–1997 | 11 |
| Detective Morris LeMotte | Larry Clarke | 1998–2000 | 20 |
| Detective Byrne | Thomas Lyons | 2000–2001 | 3 episodes |
| Detective Reina Perez | Nancy Ticotin | 2001 | 6 |
| Detective Ana Cordova | Andrea Navedo | 2001–2004 | 24 |
| Sergeant Martinez | Joe Gonzalez | 2002–2004 | 7 |
| Detective Mariluz Rivera | Selenis Leyva | 2004–2006 | 18 |
| Detective Joe Cormack | Joe Forbrich | 2008–2009 | 17 |
| Sergeant Royce | Tijuana Ricks | 2009–2010 | 5 |
| Detective Dani Vertiz | Shayvawn Webster | 2022 | 9 |
| Detective Violet Yee | Connie Shi | 2022–present | TBD |

### Crime Scene Unit investigators / crime lab technicians

| Name | Portrayed by | Year | Episodes |
| Forensic Technician Medill | Donald Corren | 1992–1999 | 17 |
| Forensic Technician Arlene Shrier | Christine Farrell | 1992–1999 | 16 |
| CSU Technician Jessica Reed | Liz Larsen | 1998–2006 | 12 |
| CSU Technician Julian Beck | John Cariani | 2002–2006 | 26 |
| Computer Forensic Technician Myra Camp | Megan Byrne | 2003–2004 | 6 |
| CSU Technician Lisa Santoro | Abigail Lopez | 2004–2005 | 3 |

### Assistant Medical Examiners

| Name | Portrayed by | Year | Episodes |
| Borak | Josh Pais | 1990–2002 | 15 |
| Brody | Richard Hirschfeld | 2002–2006 | 12 |
| Dr. Karen Waxman | Angel Desai | 2003–2005 | 4 |
| Anskel | Baron Vaughn | 2008–2009 | 2 |
| Cho Shen | Sonnie Brown | 2008–2010 | 4 |

### Defense attorneys

| Name | Portrayed by | Year | Episodes |
| Danielle Melnick | Tovah Feldshuh | 1991–2007 | 13 |
| Norman Rothenberg | Jeffrey DeMunn | 1993–2008 | 8 |
| Shambala Green | Lorraine Toussaint | 1990–1994 & 2003 | 7 |
| Larry Weaver | Bob Dishy | 1994–2002 | 7 |
| James Granick | Ned Eisenberg | 1997–2009 | 7 |
| Nick Margolis | Ben Shenkman | 1999–2009 | 6 |
| Bill Patton | Bill Moor | 1991–2000 | 6 |
| Helen Brolin | Maria Tucci | 1993–2003 | 6 |
| Peter Behrens | Tom O'Rourke | 1996–2001 | 6 |
| Arthur Gold | George Grizzard | 1992–2000 | 6 |
| Al Archer | Dennis Boutsikaris | 1996–2004 | 5 |
| Charles Garnett | James Rebhorn | 1995–2001 | 5 |
| Douglas Greer | Richard Venture | 1991–2000 | 5 |
| Anne Paulsen | Glynnis O'Connor | 1998–2004 | 5 |
| Sanford Remz | Dylan Baker | 2004–2006 & 2022–2023 | 5 |
| Sally Bell | Edie Falco | 1993–1998 | 4 |
| Aaron Solomon | John Benjamin Hickey | 2002–2006 | 4 |
| Daniel Metzler | John Cunningham | 1997–2008 | 4 |
| Mr. Axtell | Jack Gilpin | 1997–2001 | 4 |
| Barry Kaufer | Lee Shepherd | 1998–2002 | 4 |
| Charlotte Swan | Helen Carey | 1999–2005 | 4 |
| Leon Chiles | Joe Morton | 2000–2005 | 4 |
| Gordon Schell | Philip Bosco | 1990–1994 | 3 |
| Deirdre Powell | Joanna Merlin | 1994–1998 | 3 |
| Max Hellman | Ron Orbach | 1994 & 2002 | 3 |
| James Linde | Joe Grifasi | 1996–2001 | 3 |
| Paul Robinette | Richard Brooks | 1996, 2005 & 2006 | 3 |
| Stephen Olson | Spencer Garrett | 2000–2004 | 3 |
| Erica Gardner | Kate Burton | 2001–2004 | 3 |
| Jessica Sheets | Susan Floyd | 2002–2006 | 3 |
| Randy Dworkin | Peter Jacobson | 2003–2006 | 3 |
| Vanessa Galiano | Roma Maffia | 2003–2006 | 3 |
| Madeline Myers | Kate Miller | 2003–2007 | 3 |
| Rodney Fallon | Giancarlo Esposito | 2004–2005 | 3 |
| Gary Lowenthal | Eric Bogosian | 1992–1993 | 2 |
| Lanie Stieglitz | Elaine Stritch | 1992 & 1997 | 2 |
| Ruth Miller | Patti LuPone | 1996 & 1997 | 2 |
| Stan Shatenstein | Sig Libowitz | 1997 & 2005 | 2 |
| Bernie Adler | Ron Silver | 2004–2007 | 2 |
| Grubman | Elizabeth Marvel | 2008–2009 | 2 |
| Marcus Woll | Jonathan Cake | 2009 | 2 |

### Judges
#### Arraignment judges

| Name | Portrayed by | Year | Episodes |
| Arraignment Judge Morris Torledsky | David Lipman | 1992–2005 | 26 |
| Arraignment Judge Colin Fraser | Larry Sherman | 1994–2004 | 12 |
| Arraignment Judge Harriet Doremus | Barbara Spiegel | 1991–2003 | 12 |
| Arraignment Judge Janice Goldberg | Fran Lebowitz | 2001–2007 | 12 |
| Arraignment Judge Ian Feist | Merwin Goldsmith | 1991–2005 | 11 |
| Arraignment Judge William Koehler | Mark Kenneth Smaltz | 1998–2007 | 11 |
| Arraignment Judge Joseph Flint | Doug Stender | 1999–2005 | 9 |
| Arraignment Judge Antonia Mellon | Mary Lou Mellace | 1999–2006 | 9 |
| Arraignment Judge Anna Shiro | Karen Shallo | 2000–2005 | 8 |
| Arraignment Judge David Venturelli | Vince Pacimeo | 1998–2000 | 4 |
| Arraignment Judge Lisa Cutler | Kathleen Chalfant | 2001–2009 | 3 |
| Arraignment Judge Harper | Brian Smiar | 1990 | 2 |

#### Trial judges

| Name | Portrayed by | Year | Episodes |
| Trial Judge Alan Berman | David Rosenbaum | 1992–2004 | 14 |
| Trial Judge Walter Bradley | Peter McRobbie | 2001–2009 | 13 |
| Trial Judge Lisa Pongracic | Charlotte Colavin | 1992–2006 | 13 |
| Trial Judge Elizabeth Mizener | Lynn Cohen | 1993–2006 | 12 |
| Trial Judge Walter Schreiber | John Ramsey | 1991–2001 | 11 |
| Trial Judge Margaret Barry | Doris Belack | 1990–2001 | 10 |
| Trial Judge Herman Mooney | Ben Hammer | 1991–2002 | 9 |
| Trial Judge Harrison Taylor | Michael Mulheren | 1999–2006 | 9 |
| Trial Judge Andrew Barsky | Fred J. Scollay | 1992–1999 | 8 |
| Trial Judge Donald Karan | Jordan Charney | 2000–2006 | 8 |
| Trial Judge Grace Larkin | Rochelle Oliver | 1993–2003 | 8 |
| Trial Judge Rebecca Stein | Joan Copeland | 1991–2001 | 8 |
| Trial Judge Rebecca Steinman | Susan Blommaert | 1991–2004 | 8 |
| Trial Judge Deborah Burke | Donna Hanover | 1997–2004 | 7 |
| Trial Judge Michael Callahan | Bernie McInerney | 1991–1999 | 7 |
| Trial Judge Henry Fillmore | William Severs | 1991–2004 | 7 |
| Trial Judge Rosalyn Lenz | Tanya Berezin | 1991–2001 | 7 |
| Trial Judge Barbara Lusky | Iris Little Thomas | 1999–2009 | 7 |
| Trial Judge Eric Caffey | John Newton | 1991–1998 | 6 |
| Trial Judge Rochelle Desmond | Patricia R. Floyd | 2006–2009 | 6 |
| Trial Judge Nathan Murphy | Mark Zimmerman | 1997–2008 | 6 |
| Trial Judge Robert Quinn | Roger Serbagi | 1992–1999 | 6 |
| Trial Judge Joseph Rivera | Shawn Elliott | 1994–2002 | 6 |
| Trial Judge Carla Solomon | Lauren Klein | 1999–2005 | 6 |
| Trial Judge William Wright | Ron McLarty | 1998–2000 | 4 |
| Trial Judge Hugo Bright | Robert J. Hogan | 2003–2006 | 4 |
| Trial Judge Delano Burns | Mike Hodge | 1991–2006 | 4 |
| Trial Judge John Laramie | Peter Francis James | 2008–2010 | 4 |
| Trial Judge Manuel Leon | Sam Gray | 1990–1994 | 4 |
| Trial Judge Michael Schneider | David Little | 2004–2006 | 4 |
| Trial Judge Leanne Dreben | Milica Govich | 2022–2024 | 4 |
| Trial Judge Norman Barclay | Wayne Duvall | 2004–2010 | 3 |
| Trial Judge Gary Feldman | Cliff Gorman | 1998 | 3 |
| Trial Judge Eric Bertram | George Murdock | 1992–1999 | 3 |
| Trial Judge Derek Hafner | David Wolos-Fonteno | 2001–2009 | 3 |
| Trial Judge Elayne Link | Maggie Burke | 1993–2003 | 3 |
| Trial Judge Ida Zeller | Polly Adams | 2009 | 3 |
| Trial Judge Keith Fischer | Tom Mardirosian | 2004–2006 | 2 |
| Trial Judge Linda Taft | Jenna Stern | 2009–2010 | 2 |

#### Appellate judges

| Name | Portrayed by | Year | Episodes |
| Appellate Judge Pamela Jensen | Norma Fire | 1993–2003 | 7 |
| Appellate Judge Shawn McNamara | George Bartenieff | 1993–1999 | 4 |
| Appellate Judge Bloom | Ira Wheeler | 1991–1993 | 2 |
| Appellate Judge Lewis Getman | Leslie Barrett | 1991–1993 | 2 |
| Appellate Judge Barry Marton | Graham Brown | 1991–1993 | 2 |
| Appellate Judge Wayne Humphrey | Chester A. Sims II | 1993–1995 | 2 |

## Guest characters
### Defense attorneys

| Name | Portrayed by | Year | Episodes |
| Clay Bollock | Xander Berkeley | 2005 | "Fluency" |
| Depago | Vyto Ruginis | 2006 | "Public Service Homicide" |
| Leslie Drake | Dan Hedaya | 1997 | "Baby, It's You" |
| Paul Kopell | Ron Leibman | 1995 | "House Counsel" |
| Harold Morton | Victor Raider-Wexler | 1991 | "Mushrooms" |
| Bill Wendyll | Robert LuPone | 1994 | "Breeder" |