Spoilers forward for Episode 13 of Legislation & Order Season 24, referred to as “In God We Belief” and streaming subsequent day with a Peacock subscription.
After Legislation & Order showcased Odelya Halevi as ADA Sam Maroun within the earlier episode, the newest installment of the 2025 TV schedule began with the homicide of a younger lawyer after which twisted and turned till two younger folks from a conservative Christian group have been on the heart of a trial. The killer finally was convicted after a plea deal, after some backwards and forwards between Nolan and Baxter about pursuing a homicide cost.
However what actually caught my eye was the girl enjoying the protection lawyer. Lawyer Patricia Kaplan was a model new character to the NBC drama, however the actress enjoying her was not: former Legislation & Order star Selenis Leyva.
Viewers who tune into NBC in recent times reasonably than a pair a long time in the past would possibly acknowledge Levya extra from her function in sitcom Lopez vs. Lopez, however longtime Legislation & Order followers might know her higher as Detective Mariluz Rivera. Leyva recurred because the character between early Season 15 in 2004 and mid-Season 17 in 2006 for a complete of 18 episodes.
Whereas it is common for actors to play a couple of character within the Legislation & Order franchise, reveals do not typically convey again former recurring stars as new characters. (Mike Doyle as Legislation & Order: SVU‘s O’Halloran enjoying a distinct character on Legislation & Order is a notable current exception.) That stated, this technically is not Selenis Leyva’s first time again within the franchise since enjoying Detective Rivera; the cop was simply her large recurring function.
Leyva additionally performed a personality by the identify of Rona Henderson in Season 20 in 2010, which was Legislation & Order‘s final season earlier than being cancelled after which revived in 2022. So, “In God We Belief” wasn’t the primary time since her run as Rivera that the actress performed a distinct character.
The truth is, Selenis Leyva has been everywhere in the franchise going again to 1999. She performed three totally different Legislation & Order characters earlier than Rivera, that means that Patricia Kaplan was her sixth character on simply the unique present. And that is not all! She performed two characters on Legislation & Order: SVU, with the primary in Season 1 and the second in Season 20. She additionally has three credit on Legislation & Order: Legal Intent, as totally different characters in Season 1 and Season 5 earlier than showing in Season 10 as Detective Rivera.
Will her newest character return to Legislation & Order? Effectively, Nolan and Maroun at all times want a protection lawyer to go up towards of their prosecutions, so I am not going to rule something out. Apart from, the nine-show Dick Wolf TV universe is a large world, so we most likely additionally should not rule out seeing her in a brand new function. Perhaps Legislation & Order: Organized Crime Season 5 so she will hit the trifecta of present L&O reveals?
In all seriousness, you may try Selenis Leyva’s seasons of the drama as Detective Rivera streaming on Peacock, and I for one definitely would not thoughts seeing her again as a protection lawyer as Season 24 continues. Do not forget to take a look at new episodes of Legislation & Order on Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET on NBC.