Every Law & Order: SVU ADA, Ranked

Law & Order's popularity spawned several spin-offs, including Special Victims Unit, which became the longest-running primetime U.S. live-action series. While SVU detectives, like Detectives Benson and Tutuola, are the heart of the series, many of the ADAs have also become staples in SVU.

These ADAs have provided the squad with the necessary search warrants and legal advice before an arrest. The Assistant District Attorneys are vital to the process, as criminals could walk free without the legal knowledge and advice the SVU ADAs provide the detectives. Once the criminal is in custody, ADAs have the difficult job of securing a sentence for the criminal. While this is no easy feat, every ADA in SVU proves they're up to the task.

Updated on August 20, 2024, by Ajay Aravind: With multiple spin-offs, the Law & Order franchise has become one of the biggest television properties of the last thirty years. The first spin-off, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, is widely regarded as a superb primetime drama, partly due to its motley cast of characters. Although several ADAs are in the mix, some are better fan favorites than others. As such, we have updated this article with some more information.

What Is The Role Of An Assistant District Attorney In Law & Order?

An Assistant District Attorney, or ADA, is a government employee who functions much like a lawyer. The major difference, however, is that an ADA helps investigate and prosecute potential criminals — there is no defense in their line of work. As such, they are also known as state prosecutors. Their federal equivalents are known as AUSAs or Assistant United States Attorneys. Although ADAs answer to the district attorney, there are many categories like Executive ADA and Administrative ADA.

Overall, the ADA system is loosely part of the "checks and balances" principle enshrined in the US Constitution. In legal dramas like Boston Legal, the ADAs are portrayed as antagonists because they routinely try to convict innocent people, but the Law & Order franchise features them in largely positive roles. Considering that both Law & Order and SVU are set in New York City, however, many of the ADAs in the franchise work from Manhattan.

15Mikka Von Makes A Seriously Unforgivable Mistake

Debut: Law & Order: SVU Season 12, Episode 5, "Cherished"

In a hierarchy of the best ADAs on SVU, the character at the bottom can only be Mikka Von. Having recently arrived from Chicago, she appears in a single episode before vanishing forever into the ether. In the episode "Wet," Detectives Benson and Stabler catch the alleged perpetrator named Vincent, who remains incoherent for a while. Meanwhile, ADA Mikka Von attempts to keep him in prison until the trial begins.

The judge decides to free Vincent pending trial, but Stabler realizes that he couldn't possibly be the murderer they were looking for. This is where Mikka Von's dunderheaded ploy comes into play. To prevent Vincent from having representation, she bribes his lawyer with a vacation in exchange for skipping the trial. The DA instantly fires Mikka for her actions. She is shamefully forced to return home to Chicago, making her the worst SVU ADA to date.

14Abbie Carmichael Was The First SVU ADA

Debut: Law & Order Season 9, Episode 1, "Cherished"

While she didn't stay long, Abbie Carmichael left her mark on SVU after prosecuting cases for six episodes in Season 1. Viewers were already familiar with Carmichael from Law & Order, and her knowledge of the law was helpful during her time with the unit. Abbie Carmichael's time as one of the SVU ADAs was short-lived, but she left a bigger impression on the original Law & Order series.

Fans of Law & Order: SVU didn't get much background on Carmichael, as most of her storyline developed in the original Law & Order series. SVU audiences responded negatively to her stubborn nature, cold demeanor, and staunch political beliefs, which included favoring the death penalty and being anti-abortion. However, Carmichael begins changing her views after prosecuting a woman who a prison corrections officer had abused.

13Sherri West Was An SVU ADA Who Later Became A Defense Attorney

Debut: Law & Order SVU Season 12, Episode 2, "Bullseye"

Sherri West first appeared in the Season 12 episode "Bullseye." The ADA office brought in West as a temporary SVU ADA for the squad, and she worked with the detectives in a few cases. Sherri West's time as an SVU ADA was short yet memorable, as she had a witness who was murdered right before testifying and a tricky assault case.

She eventually changed sides and became a Defense Attorney, appearing in her new role in Season 13, Episode 4, "Double Strands." Although her time as an SVU ADA wasn't very impactful, she came back for an SVU episode to defend a criminal — and this time, West worked against the squad. There is a deleted scene attributing Sherri West's career switch to her "shoe fetish," which fans are already aware of.

12Michael Cutter Clashed With Some SVU Detectives

Debut: Law & Order Season 18, Episode 1, "Called Home"

Michael Cutter is a veteran of the franchise, starting his ADA career in the original Law & Order before appearing in Special Victims Unit. Although he was only on SVU for four episodes, Cutter was a memorable SVU ADA thanks to his dogged pursuit of justice and unorthodox tactics. Michael Cutter's controversial methods caused him to clash with the detectives, particularly with Detective Nick Amaro.

His willingness to manipulate a witness and bend a few rules to secure a conviction got him in trouble a couple of times, even if his motivations were correct. He even goes so far as perjury, which would have resulted in losing his job if discovered. Cutter nearly loses his law license after everyone finds out that he had not received his Bachelor's Degree, but ultimately nothing serious happens to him.

11Gillian Hardwicke Was A Fan Of Benson And Stabler

Debut: Law & Order SVU Season 12, Episode 6, "Branded"

Gillian Hardwicke, like many viewers, was a fan of the work Detective Benson and Stabler did on SVU. As such, she requested a transfer to their unit to work with them. She was the 8th SVU ADA, replacing Mikka Von. Hardwicke had a high conviction rate and was proud of it, and even if she might seem tough, her heart was in the right place.

ADA Hardwicke had a few arguments with Benson during her time on Law & Order: SVU, as she found it challenging to see past her black-or-white view of the law. Although she initially had some trouble fitting in with the squad, Hardwicke eventually managed to earn her place and became a trustworthy SVU ADA. She is best known for her 92% conviction rate as an SVU ADA, and her attempts to maintain her standard no matter what happens.

10Elizabeth Donnelly Was An SVU ADA Who Later Became A Judge

Debut: Law & Order SVU Season 3, Episode 18, "Guilt"

Elizabeth Donnelly was the Bureau Chief who supervised both ADA Alexandra Cabot and ADA Casey Novak. Donnelly eventually became a judge and presided over several SVU cases. Her strong morals and passion for upholding the law made her incredibly successful in the courtroom. Audiences never found out much about Elizabeth Donnelly's life outside of her successful career, except for one time when she took a leave of absence to prosecute a cold case as an Executive ADA.

This murder case provided many twists and ultimately showed that Donnelly's harsh approach didn't always work as an ADA. She also tends to have a lot of fights with other ADAs, arguably because she despises their career success while lamenting her own failure. Donnelly is also pro-choice, making her stand clear on more than one occasion. Her standing reflects how little the fans empathize with her character.

9Kim Greylek Was Constantly Clashing With Detective Stabler

Debut: Law & Order SVU Season 10, Episode 1, "Trials"

Kim Greylek came to the Special Victims Unit as ADA Casey Novak's replacement. Her first appearance was during the premiere episode of Season 10, titled "Trials." Greylek had a strong, hands-on approach, which the detectives found difficult to work with. As an SVU ADA, Greylek preferred to be part of the investigations and was constantly at odds with Detective Stabler.

Kim Greylek's unwavering determination meant she did everything in her power for every victim she represented. However, she had difficulties adjusting to the SVU squad and eventually left for DC. Still, Greylek managed to leave a mark as a memorable SVU ADA. She would become known as the "Crusader," an epithet that refers to her laudable work on women's rights issues. On the other hand, her strict demeanor sometimes caused problems for her.

8Jo Marlowe Was Detective Stabler's Partner Before Becoming An ADA

Debut: Law & Order SVU Season 11, Episode 21, "Torch"

ADA Jo Marlowe joined the series after Casey Novak and Sonya Paxton had departed. She was only involved in a few episodes of SVU, but she left a lasting impression on the audience. After joining the team in Season 11, viewers soon learned that Marlowe had a history with Detective Stabler, as they used to be law enforcement partners in the NYPD. As such, Jo Marlowe's time in the Special Victims Unit eventually dredged up her past.

In "Shattered," Marlowe and the team were held hostage. To get herself and her colleagues to safety, Marlow tried to bond with the kidnapper by revealing that she had previously battled cancer and lost everything. Marlowe managed to defuse the situation by connecting with the criminal this way. Although her breast cancer took a great toll on her, she plunged herself into her work to balance her lack of a personal life.

7Sonya Paxton Had A Shocking End To Her Story

Debut: Law & Order SVU Season 11, Episode 1, "Unstable"

Sonya Paxton joined the team after ADA Alexandra Cabot left SVU. During her time with the squad as one of the SVU ADAs, Paxton had a hard time working alongside Detective Stabler, as they would often disagree and argue. Paxton's struggles came to light in Season 11 and revealed that she had an alcohol addiction, combined with her already cynical personality.

Sonya Paxton's alcoholism threatened a couple of her cases in SVU, and she was encouraged to admit herself to a rehab facility to overcome her addiction. Her time as an SVU ADA came to a shocking end when she began investigating a cold case from 1986 and was brutally murdered by the killer. Luckily, Paxton bit the criminal, which allowed the SVU team to catch him.

6David Haden Dated Detective Olivia Benson

Debut: Law & Order SVU Season 13, Episode 12, "Official Story"

ADA David Haden worked with the SVU squad in a few cases, but fans mostly remember him for the romantic relationship he developed with Detective Olivia Benson. However, when Haden became the Bureau Chief of a new unit investigating the SVU, their work was a conflict of interest, forcing them to break up. While prosecuting criminals, ADA David Haden proved he was ready to take on the more disturbing SVU cases.

Like the actor, Haden came from a family of district attorneys, and his knowledge and experience was always on show. This made ADA Haden stand out from previous SVU ADAs, leaving an impression on fans. Interestingly, actor Harry Connick Jr.'s father was the former district attorney of New Orleans, Harry Connick Sr.

5Peter Stone Is Part Of Dick Wolf's Chicago Universe

Debut: Chicago PD Season 3, Episode 21, "Justice"

Peter Stone was first introduced in Chicago PD and Chicago Justice before joining the SVU cast. Stone joined the series in Special Victims Unit Season 19, Episode 13, "The Undiscovered Country," as Special Counsel. After Rafael Barba left SVU, Stone replaced him as the ADA assigned to the squad. At first, Stone seemed to clash with Detective Benson, but they soon developed a friendship.

He took on important cases throughout his career and was attacked while prosecuting a criminal network. Stone's emotions gradually got the better of him, and he chose to resign as an SVU ADA. While he didn't last long, Peter Stone left a mark not only on SVU but on Dick Wolf's ever-expanding universe, earning him a spot as one of the best SVU ADAs. However, a few characters have proven more effective than Peter Stone.

4Dominick Carisi, Jr. Began As An SVU Detective

Debut: Law & Order SVU Season 16, Episode 1, "Girls Disappeared"

Dominick Carisi, Jr. was the first ADA to begin his work within the Special Victims Unit as a detective. During his career as a detective, he mentioned that he attended law school at night. Carisi annoyed ADA Barba frequently by giving him unsolicited law advice, often to the amusement of the rest of the detectives. Unlike many other ADAs, the show delves into Carisi's personal life quite a bit.

After leaving his detective career behind, Carisi became an SVU ADA in Season 21. He had a hard time adjusting to this new dynamic with his former colleagues, as his new responsibilities often clashed with the detectives'. Still, he proved his talent as an ADA and earned the SVU squad's approval. Carisi's devout Catholicism never gets in the way of his duties, however, as he has scolded criminal priests on at least two occasions.

3Casey Novak Is One Of The Most Successful ADAs

Debut: Law & Order SVU Season 5, Episode 5, "Serendipity"

Casey Novak was assigned to the SVU precinct after ADA Cabot left. Her debut was in the Season 5 episode, "Serendipity." During her first case, Novak struggled with the emotional toll of the job and even asked for a transfer. However, she stuck with it and soon showed that she was more than capable of taking every criminal to justice.

Although a graduate of Harvard Law School, Law & Order: SVU ADA Novak is pretty naive but her fresh outlook on law worked to her advantage. While she may seem strong and unaffected on the outside, the cases Novak worked on still impacted her. She developed a strong bond with the SVU detectives and even took charge of some investigations. In one case, Novak even risks losing her job to help the wife of a man who contracted HIV from an affair.

2Alexandra Cabot Was The First Permanent SVU ADA

Debut: Law & Order SVU Season 2, Episode 1, "Wrong Is Right"

Alexandra Cabot was the first permanent ADA in Special Victims Unit. She debuted alongside iconic detective Fin Tutuola in the first episode of Season 2, "Wrong is Right." While assigned to SVU, ADA Cabot showcased her strong morals and legal ethics, which earned the detectives' respect. Having spent time in Witness Protection, SVU ADA Cabot was incredibly compassionate to victims, notably children and victims of assault.

She was also strong-willed and determined, and her relationship with detective Olivia Benson on Law & Order: SVU was beloved by the fandom. Even after her departure, Cabot remained an important part of SVU and appeared in other episodes in different seasons. Actor Stephanie March has also appeared in Conviction, an unrelated legal drama.

1Rafael Barba Is The Longest-Serving SVU ADA

Debut: Law & Order SVU Season 13, Episode 3, "Twenty-Five Acts"

Rafael Barba became a Law & Order fan-favorite thanks to his practical approach and refusal to back down against tough criminals. ADA Barba made his debut in the Season 14 episode "Twenty-Five Acts" and left an impression on viewers from the start. He was so determined to seek justice that he often came across as ruthless and cutthroat.

During his time as a Law & Order: SVU ADA, Rafael Barba clashed with detectives due to his aggressive prosecuting style. However, Barba slowly earned the squad's respect and became close friends with Olivia Benson. Rafael Barba eventually became the most beloved SVU ADA thanks to his strong morals and sense of justice. Rafael Barba also ranks as the second longest-serving ADA in the franchise behind Law & Order's Jack McCoy.