There have been many ADAs in SVU over the years, although Carisi is the first to jump from “law” to “order.” Carisi’s offer at the end of the episode breaks a tradition that has stood since the series premiered in 1999, opening up exciting new possibilities for the courtroom side of SVU in season 27.

Carisi Adds Another ADA To The SVU Prosecution Bench At The End Of SVU Season 27, Episode 2

ADA Cindy Jones Is Invited To Be Carisi’s Permanent Second Chair By The Episode’s End

Carisi has one of the best arcs of any SVU character. Rising from his proudly working-class, Staten Island background as a detective, Carisi went to night school while working at SVU to get his law degree, falling in love with Rollins in the process. Carisi has been the ADA representing SVU’s caseload every season since season 21.

SVU season 27, episode 2’s case involves a well-connected, well-protected high-end sex club owner, Derek Simpson (Michael Cassidy). Carisi meets with ADA Cindy Jones (Norma Kuhling), whose case against Simpson simply went away. Carisi invites Jones to be his second chair for the trial, which she eagerly accepts to get justice against Simpson.

Seeing more of the legal side was refreshing, but it’s not particularly cinematic or visually interesting when it’s just Carisi prepping alone. Carisi and Jones had an easy chemistry, and Benson noted they were an effective duo. Simpson was thrown off when he realized he would be crossed by a female attorney, showing just one advantage of having a team.

So many minor characters are cycled through in long-running franchises like SVU, so although having Jones seemed like an obvious asset to the team, I didn’t expect to see her again soon. SVU shocked me when Carisi informed Benson he’d already put in for the transfer for Jones to join him more permanently.

Why Having Two ADAs Will Be An Exciting Change Of Pace For The “Order” Side Of SVU

Having Both Carisi & Cindy Jones Adds Fresh Perspective And Potential Drama To The Courtroom Side Of SVU

For 27 seasons, Law & Order: SVU has operated with a single assigned ADA at a time, making the addition of two prosecutors a genuine game-changer. While bureau chiefs have occasionally stepped in—most notably in season 12—the “order” side has never had the same staffing depth the “law” side has.

When Alex Cabot returned from Witness Protection in SVU season 12, she shared duties with Executive ADA Sonya Paxton, who had taken over in Cabot’s absence. For a stretch, SVU cases would be handled by either Cabot or Paxton (and later Jo Marlowe) – so there were effectively two ADAs covering SVU, but not as a legal team.

SVU often prioritizes the detectives’ investigations over courtroom drama, leaving the prosecutorial side feeling a bit one-note. Bringing in multiple ADAs allows for more interplay, more perspectives, and more conflict.

In this initial case, Carisi and Jones are perfectly aligned. However, future cases might have more legal gray area. Carisi is very by the book – there will be tension if Jones is more willing to bend the rules to get results. Watching one person prep a case alone is not interesting – but two people will have more discussion and debate.

In SVU season 27, episode 2, Simpson’s surprise at being questioned by a female ADA highlighted why balance matters: sensitive cases benefit from both male and female prosecutors, who may bring different approaches when working with survivors, defendants, and juries.

Two ADAs also create narrative flexibility—differing opinions on plea deals, contrasting styles in court, or even clashing personal dynamics. SVU has long mined drama from tensions between Oliva Benson and her SVU team, but adding depth to the “order” side finally opens that same range of possibilities for the prosecutors.

Jones’ Entrance Could Pave The Way For Carisi’s Exit

SVU Has Been Laying Clues That Carisi Could Be Leaving SVU

Introducing a pair of ADAs in SVU season 27 might be more than just an exciting change of pace – it could be setting the stage for Carisi’s eventual exit from Law & Order: SVU. He has been at SVU for 11 years, almost equally split between time as a detective and ADA. He and Rollins fell in love while working the squad’s emotionally grueling cases.

But with Rollins no longer part of SVU, Carisi lacks the same emotional anchor that once kept him grounded to the draining psychological toll of working with special victims. Carisi also carries scars from the job. After being held hostage at gunpoint in season 26, he’s shown signs of PTSD, even if he struggles to admit it.

Trauma has often been the reason ADAs leave, most notably Barba resigning after the harrowing brain-dead baby case. Carisi may be headed down a similar path. Of course, this is just speculation—there’s been no formal announcement that actor Peter Scanavino is leaving.

But Rollins’ ambiguous status – sometimes popping up in an advisory capacity, but largely absent – and Jones’ seamless introduction as Carisi’s second chair create a plausible opening. While her arrival wasn’t framed as a succession plan, Jones could easily be positioned as Carisi’s replacement if he steps away from Law & Order: SVU in the future.