All Rise

The series is breathtakingly paced and well-acted, although its briskness means it never really digs too deep beneath the surface of the very complicated issues it takes on. But the performances help bring some zest to the courtroom, thanks to snappy dialogue and an active camera capturing a vivid cast. The combined effect should keep CBS’ audience sufficiently entertained.

Watch those supporting actors. They’re Tony winners and highly skilled.

As it stands, this courtroom drama has the feel of the kind of show CBS develops well, a lightly serialized episodic diversion structured around open-and-shut cases and carried by a solid lead. Missick is a compelling performer, and hopefully the network will give her show enough time to smooth out the more forced elements.

What the show turns out to be, judging by the first installment anyway, is a better-than-average light drama, sans stridency, with a strong cast and considerable potential for exploring themes of substance—while still maintaining the breathtaking pace of the first episode, during which viewers may have no idea who’s who, and through no fault of their own.

Yeah, there’s a lot of stuff that would never happen in a real courthouse here, but the characters are quite likable, especially Wilson Bethel (“Hart of Dixie”) as an assistant district attorney and Ruthie Ann Miles as Carmichael’s know-it-all judicial assistant.

Like other CBS procedurals, it’s on the hectic side, with a streak of comedy — on her first trip to the bench, Lola trips, literally — and a team of colorful colleagues.

After watching two additional episodes, I'm willing to adjust those aspirations to an average attempt to do a Robert and Michelle King (The Good Wife) show in Los Angeles.

Nothing you’ll see rises to any level of must-see. Instead it’s all pretty much preachy and pedestrian, with the diversity of the cast working against itself in terms of this show’s labored approach to injustice and discrimination.