The third season of The Lincoln Lawyer delivered a shocking conclusion that left Los Angeles defense attorney Mickey Haller in the worst position of his career. After successfully defending an innocent client and uncovering a deep conspiracy, Mickey finds himself framed for murder and under arrest as the season ends. This ending sets the stage for a dramatic fourth season, which is scheduled to arrive on Netflix on February 5, 2026.
Based on Michael Connelly’s novel The Gods of Guilt, Season 3 premiered on October 17, 2024. The story became deeply personal for Mickey, focusing on his mission to find who killed his friend and former client, Gloria “Glory Days” Dayton.
How Season 2 Set the Stage for the Mystery
The third season picks up exactly where the second left off. At the end of Season 2, Mickey takes a call from a new client named Julian La Cosse, who is in jail accused of murder. Mickey agrees to meet him, but the case takes a devastating turn when he discovers the victim is Giselle Dallinger—the real name of his friend Glory Days.
Mickey had worked with Glory Days on a case in a previous season. Her death hits him hard, creating a sense of personal responsibility.
“This one is personal, because it’s a client that he actually really cared about,” said showrunner Dailyn Rodriguez. “Mickey very much is [wondering], ‘Did he have something to do with this? Could he have done more to help her?’”
The Central Case: Defending Julian La Cosse
Mickey’s new client, Julian La Cosse, is an IT worker who managed an escort verification website, taking a cut of the profits for keeping sex workers safe. He and Glory Days were friends, but they had a financial dispute. Julian admits he visited her home and they fought, but he insists he left her alive.
From the beginning, Mickey believes Julian is telling the truth. For the first time in the series, Mickey is defending a client he truly believes is innocent. This changes his approach and adds more pressure to find the real killer.
Uncovering a Corrupt Conspiracy
Mickey’s search for the truth leads him to a dangerous web of corruption. His investigation points to Hector Moya, a Tijuana cartel boss that Mickey and Glory Days had helped put in prison years earlier. Mickey visits Moya in jail, and the drug lord suggests Mickey look into a DEA agent named James De Marco.
Mickey discovers that De Marco had been working with the rival Juárez cartel for over a decade. He forced Glory Days to plant a gun on Hector Moya, which led to Moya’s life sentence. When Moya subpoenaed Glory Days to testify about the setup, De Marco killed her to keep her quiet.
A Season of Loss and Danger
The pursuit of justice came at a high personal cost for Mickey and his team. Several characters died during the season’s events.
- Eddie Rojas: A family friend and former babysitter for Mickey’s daughter, Eddie starts working as Mickey’s new driver. He is killed in a car accident that was meant for Mickey, set up by De Marco.
- Neil Bishop: A former LAPD detective and DA’s investigator who was under De Marco’s control. In a stunning courtroom scene, he confesses to his role in Gloria’s death before taking his own life on the witness stand.
- James De Marco: The corrupt DEA agent flees after Bishop’s testimony but is later killed by the cartel.
The scene with Bishop was one of the most powerful in the show’s history. Actor Holt McCallany’s performance was described as heartbreaking, with the scene requiring three days and about 50 takes to film.
The Final Twist: Mickey Haller Framed for Murder
After four months, Mickey’s world seems to be back in order. Julian’s charges are dismissed, and he receives a large financial settlement from the city. Mickey’s ex-wife and office manager, Lorna, passes the bar exam and becomes a lawyer. Mickey and his team celebrate and he heads out for a vacation.
This peaceful moment is shattered when a police officer pulls over Mickey’s classic 1963 Lincoln Continental convertible. The officer insists on searching the car and opens the trunk, where he finds the body of Sam Scales.
Sam Scales was a con artist and a former client of Mickey’s who owed him money. Mickey is visibly shocked and horrified, instantly realizing he has been set up.
“When he sees what’s inside and who is inside, in that second, he knows that his whole life is crumbling,” actor Manuel Garcia-Rulfo said of his character’s reaction. “It’s awful… It leaves you like, ‘Oh my god!’”
Mickey is arrested at the scene, accused of a murder he did not commit.
What the Ending Means for Season 4
The shocking arrest directly leads into the story for the confirmed fourth season. Netflix announced the renewal in January 2025, and the new season will be based on Michael Connelly’s sixth Lincoln Lawyer novel, The Law of Innocence.
The story will flip the show’s usual formula. For the first time, Mickey Haller will be the defendant. He must work from a jail cell to prove his own innocence. This presents a unique challenge, as the legal saying goes: “A lawyer who represents himself has a fool for a client”.
Manuel Garcia-Rulfo has expressed excitement about playing a version of Mickey who has lost everything and must fight his way back. He also suggested that Mickey’s ex-wife Lorna, now a lawyer, could be part of his defense team, along with his first ex-wife, prosecutor Maggie McPherson.
Key Character Updates and New Faces
Several characters saw significant developments in Season 3, and new faces joined the cast.
Returning Cast and Their Roles:
- Manuel Garcia-Rulfo as Mickey Haller
- Neve Campbell as Maggie McPherson, Mickey’s first ex-wife
- Becki Newton as Lorna Crane, Mickey’s second ex-wife who becomes a lawyer
- Jazz Raycole as Izzy Letts, Mickey’s driver
- Angus Sampson as Cisco, Mickey’s investigator and Lorna’s husband
- Yaya DaCosta as Andrea “Andy” Freeman, a prosecutor who has a romantic relationship with Mickey
New Season 3 Cast Members:
- Merrin Dungey as Judge Regina Turner
- Allyn Moriyon as Eddie Rojas, Mickey’s new driver
- John Pirruccello as Prosecutor William Forsythe
- Philip Anthony-Rodriguez as Chief Deputy DA Adam Suarez
- Holt McCallany as Neil Bishop
- Michael Irby as DEA Agent James De Marco
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