In a dramatic twist for the third season of “The Lincoln Lawyer,” Mickey Haller, played by Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, finds himself framed for murder after a shocking trial conclusion. Having made many enemies throughout the series, one of his adversaries is now seeking revenge. This season kicks off with Haller defending a new client, Julian La Cosse (Devon Graye), who is accused of murdering his former client, Gloria Dayton (Fiona Rene).
As the legal drama unfolds, Haller is forced to confront a character from his past, Hector Moya (Arturo Del Puerto), a drug trafficker whom he helped convict alongside Gloria. Despite these events having taken place before the series even began, they play a crucial role in La Cosse’s defense.
The season finale reveals that La Cosse is innocent, marking a first for Haller, who typically defended guilty clients. After a pivotal prison visit to Moya, Haller discovers that Gloria could not have informed the DEA about Moya’s activities alone, indicating she had an accomplice. This leads him to suspect a DEA agent named James De Marco (Michael Irby) might be involved.
In a gripping turn of events, former LAPD detective Neil Bishop (Holt McCallany) testifies that De Marco murdered Gloria to hide his involvement in Moya’s arrest. The intricate web of betrayal reveals that Gloria and De Marco conspired against Moya, with De Marco later killing Gloria and framing La Cosse. The testimony takes a dark turn when Bishop, fearing retaliation, takes his own life in the courtroom. De Marco, on the run, meets his end at the hands of a cartel member linked to Moya.
While the mystery appears resolved with La Cosse receiving compensation and Haller exonerated, his troubles are far from over. After a serious car accident, it becomes clear that there are threats against his life. In a shocking conclusion, Haller is pulled over by the police, who discover a dead body in his Lincoln’s trunk—none other than Sam Scales (Christopher Thornton), a former client from season 2.
With the stage set for possible future conflicts, co-showrunner Ted Humphrey teased that the series may explore Haller’s challenge of defending himself if renewed for a fourth season.