The Shocking New Cast Of Law & Order Season 24: Departures, New Detectives, And The New District Attorney

The Law & Order universe is currently in the middle of one of its most dramatic cast shake-ups in recent memory, with the flagship series, Law & Order, undergoing a major overhaul for its highly-anticipated Season 24. As of today, December 18, 2025, fans are grappling with the reality of saying goodbye to two beloved veterans while welcoming two powerful new faces to the iconic procedural drama.

This article provides the most current and definitive guide to the main cast of the original Law & Order series for Season 24, detailing the major changes, the actors stepping into the new roles, and a complete look at the current ensemble. Furthermore, we extend the topical authority to cover the significant cast news from the spin-offs, Special Victims Unit (SVU) and Organized Crime (OC), ensuring you have the freshest information on the entire Dick Wolf franchise.

Complete Biography Profile: The Current Law & Order (Season 24) Main Cast

The 24th season of the original series features a blend of returning and new actors, particularly in the critical 'Law' and 'Order' segments. This list details the current main cast members for the flagship show, including their character roles and notable career highlights before joining the team.

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Tony Goldwyn as District Attorney Nicholas Baxter

• Role: District Attorney Nicholas Baxter, the new head of the DA’s office.
• Biography: Born May 20, 1960, Anthony Howard Goldwyn is an American actor, director, producer, and political activist. He is most widely recognized for his iconic role as the villainous Carl Bruner in the film Ghost (1990) and for playing President Fitzgerald Grant III in the hit ABC series Scandal (2012–2018). His extensive career also includes the voice of the title character in Disney’s Tarzan (1999). Goldwyn steps into the massive void left by Sam Waterston’s departure.

Maura Tierney as Lieutenant Jessica Brady

• Role: Lieutenant Jessica Brady, the new commanding officer of the 27th Precinct detectives.
• Biography: Maura Lynn Tierney (born February 3, 1965) is an American actress known for a string of critically acclaimed television roles. She is best known for portraying Lisa Miller on the sitcom NewsRadio (1995–1999), Abby Lockhart on the medical drama ER (1999–2009), and Helen Solloway on The Affair (2014–2019), for which she won a Golden Globe Award. She replaces Camryn Manheim in the Lieutenant role.

Hugh Dancy as Executive Assistant District Attorney Nolan Price

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• Role: Executive Assistant District Attorney (EADA) Nolan Price, the lead prosecutor.
• Biography: Hugh Michael Horace Dancy (born June 19, 1975) is an English actor who gained prominence for his role as Will Graham in the critically acclaimed psychological thriller series Hannibal (2013–2015). His other notable roles include the title character in the TV film David Copperfield, Prince Charmont in Ella Enchanted, and roles in films like Black Hawk Down. He is a returning cast member, continuing his role from the revival seasons.

Mehcad Brooks as Senior Detective Jalen Shaw

• Role: Senior Detective Jalen Shaw, the lead detective on the 'Law' side.
• Biography: Mehcad Jason McKinley Brooks is an American actor and former fashion model. He is known for his roles as Matthew Applewhite in the second season of Desperate Housewives and Terrence "TK" King in the USA Network series Necessary Roughness. Before Law & Order, he spent several seasons playing James Olsen/Guardian on The CW's superhero series Supergirl. He is a returning series regular.

Reid Scott as Junior Detective Vincent Riley

• Role: Junior Detective Vincent Riley, Detective Shaw's partner.
• Biography: Reid Scott (born November 19, 1977) is an American actor best known for his work in television comedy. His most prominent role was playing the cutthroat political operative Dan Egan on the Emmy-winning HBO comedy series Veep (2012–2019). He also starred as Brendan "Brando" Dorff on the TBS sitcom My Boys. Scott joined the series in Season 23, replacing Jeffrey Donovan.

Odelya Halevi as Assistant District Attorney Samantha Maroun

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• Role: Assistant District Attorney (ADA) Samantha Maroun, EADA Price's partner.
• Biography: Odelya Halevi is an Israeli-American actress. Prior to her role as ADA Samantha Maroun, she had recurring roles in television series such as Good Girls Revolt, Midnight, Texas, and New Girl. Her role in Law & Order marks her most prominent television credit to date, serving as the voice of the junior prosecutor.

The Law & Order Flagship Series: A Season of Major Departures

The news cycle leading into Law & Order Season 24 was dominated by two massive cast shake-ups, signaling a new era for the longest-running live-action primetime series in television history. The most significant of these was the farewell to a true TV legend.

In a dramatic mid-season event, Sam Waterston, who played District Attorney Jack McCoy, officially exited the series. Waterston had been a fixture of the show for over three decades, first joining in 1994, making him one of the longest-running characters in TV history. His departure marks the end of an era for the franchise, leaving the role of the District Attorney open for a fresh perspective.

Stepping into the DA's office is veteran actor Tony Goldwyn, who assumes the role of District Attorney Nicholas Baxter. Goldwyn’s character is expected to bring a new dynamic to the 'Order' side of the show, shifting the political and legal landscape that Jack McCoy had helmed for so long.

The shake-up continued on the 'Law' side with the exit of Camryn Manheim, who portrayed Lieutenant Kate Dixon. Manheim had been a core part of the revival cast since 2022. Her replacement is the critically acclaimed actress Maura Tierney, taking on the role of Lieutenant Jessica Brady. Tierney's arrival, coupled with the established partnership of Detective Jalen Shaw (Mehcad Brooks) and Detective Vincent Riley (Reid Scott), completes the new investigative team structure.

Current Cast Status Across the Law & Order Universe: SVU and Organized Crime

To have true topical authority on the "cast of Law & Order," one must look at the entire franchise. Both Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and Law & Order: Organized Crime have also seen significant changes in their current seasons, proving that no character is truly safe in the Dick Wolf procedural world.

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (Season 26 Cast)

The iconic SVU continues its historic run, but even the squad room is seeing shifts in its roster. The core leadership remains solid, guaranteeing stability for the franchise's most popular spin-off.

• Mariska Hargitay (Captain Olivia Benson) and Ice-T (Sergeant Odafin "Fin" Tutuola) remain the undisputed anchors of the series, continuing their record-breaking tenure.
• Peter Scanavino (ADA Sonny Carisi) also returns to the District Attorney's office.
• Kevin Kane (Detective Terry Bruno) was promoted to a series regular, a move welcomed by fans who enjoyed his dynamic with the squad.
• Major Departures: It has been confirmed that two series regulars, Octavio Pisano (Detective Joe Velasco) and Juliana Aidén Martinez (Detective Tonie Churlish), will be departing the series after the conclusion of Season 26. This leaves Captain Benson’s squad facing a significant restructuring.

Law & Order: Organized Crime (Season 5 Cast)

The grittiest spin-off, Organized Crime, centering on Detective Elliot Stabler, is also undergoing a major shift in its fifth season, with a new face joining the ranks of the Organized Crime Control Bureau (OCCB).

• Christopher Meloni (Detective Elliot Stabler) and Danielle Moné Truitt (Sergeant Ayanna Bell) continue to lead the OCCB unit.
• Rick Gonzalez (Detective Bobby Reyes) is also a returning series regular.
• Major Departure: Ainsley Seiger, who played the fan-favorite tech genius Jet Slootmaekers, will not be returning as a series regular for the remainder of Season 5, a shocking move that changes the unit's dynamic.
• New Addition: Veteran actor Jason Patric has joined the cast for Season 5 in a new role, promising to shake up Stabler's world and fill the void left by the departing character.

The Future of the Law & Order Franchise: New Dynamics and Topical Entities

The extensive cast changes across all three shows—the flagship, SVU, and Organized Crime—underscore a deliberate strategy by creator Dick Wolf and NBC to inject new energy into the long-running franchise. The arrival of established, high-profile actors like Tony Goldwyn, Maura Tierney, and Jason Patric is a clear effort to maintain the topical relevance and critical attention of the procedural dramas.

The departure of a TV icon like Sam Waterston (Jack McCoy) from the original series is an undeniable turning point, shifting the focus to a new generation of prosecutors, led by Hugh Dancy's EADA Nolan Price and the new DA, Nicholas Baxter. The Law & Order Season 24 cast, therefore, represents a complete refresh of the classic 'cops and lawyers' formula, promising fresh storytelling and new conflicts for the millions of viewers who tune in weekly.

The cast shake-ups in the spin-offs, particularly the loss of two detectives on SVU Season 26 and a core member on Organized Crime Season 5, suggest that the entire universe is entering a phase of evolution. Fans should anticipate a new dynamic in all three series as the new teams settle in and the procedural drama continues to reflect contemporary legal and policing challenges.