The fourth season of Netflix’s legal drama The Lincoln Lawyer arrived on February 5, 2026, and delivered exactly what fans expected—high-stakes courtroom battles, personal turmoil for Mickey Haller, and an ending that has everyone talking. Based on Michael Connelly’s sixth book The Law of Innocence, the new season dropped all 10 episodes at once, and viewers quickly devoured the story of Mickey fighting the most important case of his career: his own .
The season picked up right where the third season left off, with Manuel Garcia-Rulfo’s Mickey Haller under arrest after police found the body of his former client Sam Scales in the trunk of his Lincoln. What followed was a tense, emotional journey through the criminal justice system from the defendant’s perspective. But the finale answered the big questions while raising an even bigger one that has fans desperate for the already-confirmed fifth season .
Who Really Killed Sam Scales on The Lincoln Lawyer?
The murder mystery at the heart of Season 4 finally got its resolution in the final episodes. Sam Scales, the career con artist played by Christopher Thornton, was indeed murdered—but not for the reasons Mickey initially believed. The investigation revealed that Sam was working as an FBI informant, embedded in a massive biofuel scam run by Alex Gazarian (formerly Alex Grant from Season 2) .
FBI Agent Dawn Ruth, played by Sasha Alexander, explained to Mickey that Sam was their inside man, helping them build a case against a network of refineries defrauding the government. The scam involved trucks supposedly delivering biofuel but actually running the same cooking grease in and out while billing the government multiple times. However, Sam’s death wasn’t retaliation for his informant work. Instead, Alex Gazarian discovered that Sam was stealing money from the operation .
Gazarian had Sam killed because, as Maggie put it, “Sam was scamming the scammers.” The body ended up in Mickey’s trunk because Gazarian held a grudge against the lawyer. After Mickey pushed Gazarian to plead the fifth during Lisa Trammell’s trial in Season 2, Gazarian lost his construction company and Olympic contract. That resentment, combined with the missing money, led him to frame his enemy for murder .
Did Mickey Haller Win His Murder Trial?
The central question of Season 4 was whether Mickey would be found guilty of murder. The answer came with a typical Haller twist—he won, but not through a jury verdict. After weeks of house arrest and a grueling trial led by prosecutor Dana Berg (nicknamed “Death Row Dana” and played by Constance Zimmer), Mickey’s team pieced together the truth .
The key witness was Jeanine Ferrigno (Emmanuelle Chriqui), Alex Gazarian’s girlfriend, who knew the details of Sam’s death. However, she refused to testify publicly, fearing for her life. Mickey’s team devised a clever plan. They had Izzy’s girlfriend Grace (Gigi Zumbado) dress in a blonde wig to impersonate Jeanine outside the FBI building, making the agents believe Jeanine was about to take the stand .
The bluff worked. FBI agents rushed to court to prevent Jeanine’s testimony, which would have compromised their ongoing investigation. In exchange for her silence, the District Attorney offered to drop the charges against Mickey. But Mickey didn’t just accept a quiet deal. He demanded full public exoneration, forcing Dana Berg to deliver a statement clearing his name. He also requested an investigation into Officer Collins, the cop who framed him. The DA agreed, and Mickey walked free with his reputation restored .
The Shocking Final Scene: Cobie Smulders Revealed as Mickey’s Sister
Just when everything seemed settled, the finale delivered a gut-punch of a cliffhanger. Mickey, enjoying his freedom, went grocery shopping and noticed a woman watching him in the produce section. That woman was Cobie Smulders, whose role had been kept secret throughout the season’s promotion .
As Mickey walked to his car in the parking lot, the woman ran after him. Before she could introduce herself, she shouted “GET DOWN!” and pushed him to the ground as shots rang out. An Armenian mobster—connected to the same criminals who killed Gazarian—had targeted Mickey. FBI agents who had been following Mickey (because they believed he remained a target) killed the shooter .
When Mickey asked the woman who she was and how she knew to save him, she dropped the bombshell: “Actually, I’m your sister.” The season ended there, leaving viewers stunned and desperate for answers about this newly revealed family member .
What Does This Mean for Season 5?
The introduction of Mickey’s sister opens up a whole new chapter for The Lincoln Lawyer. The show has already been renewed for a fifth season, which was announced before Season 4 even premiered. The upcoming season will be based on Connelly’s seventh Haller novel, Resurrection Walk, which was published in 2023 .
Ted Humphrey and Dailyn Rodriguez, the co-showrunners, confirmed they are already working on the new episodes. In Michael Connelly’s book universe, Mickey Haller does have a half-brother—famous detective Harry Bosch—but a sister is a new addition. The Bosch character hasn’t appeared in the Netflix series due to rights issues, as his television home is at Prime Video. This original character creation gives the show freedom to explore family dynamics without the legal complications of bringing in Bosch .
Where to Watch The Lincoln Lawyer Season 4
All 10 episodes of The Lincoln Lawyer Season 4 are currently streaming exclusively on Netflix. Viewers in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, India, and worldwide can watch the complete season on the platform. The show follows the same release pattern as previous seasons, with all episodes dropping at once for binge-watching .
For those who need a refresher, the first three seasons are also available on Netflix. The series has become one of the streamer’s most reliable hits, with Season 3 spending six weeks in the global top 10 and amassing nearly 240 million viewing hours .
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The Cast That Brought Season 4 to Life
The fourth season featured the return of the core cast. Manuel Garcia-Rulfo led the series as Mickey Haller, delivering what he called his strongest performance yet. Neve Campbell had a more prominent role as Maggie McPherson, Mickey’s ex-wife who switched to defense work to help his case. Becki Newton returned as Lorna Crane, Jazz Raycole as Izzy Letts, and Angus Sampson as Cisco .
New additions made a strong impact. Constance Zimmer brought intensity as prosecutor Dana Berg. Emmanuelle Chriqui played the frightened Jeanine Ferrigno. Sasha Alexander joined as FBI Agent Dawn Ruth. And Cobie Smulders saved her reveal for the final moments, setting up what promises to be a major storyline in Season 5 .
The season also featured guest appearances from Elliott Gould as Legal Siegel, though his character faced tragedy, and Krista Warner as Mickey’s daughter Hayley. Celebrity chef Nancy Silverton even made a cameo, adding a touch of authentic Los Angeles flavor to the production .
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