Benson and Carisi pursue a judge

Law & Order: SVU The Oct. 10 episode of the long-running NBC drama is about a federal judge (guest star Brett Cullen), and in TV Insider's exclusive preview, Captain Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay) and ADA Sonny Carisi (Peter Scanavino) know exactly how that complicates the case.

In an episode titled “Excavation,” a woman's devastating repressed memories come flooding back when she finds an old notebook in her family's home. For Carisi, facing charges for a decades-old crime becomes even more difficult when a powerful judge puts the case on hold.

The victim remembers Judge Andrews in her room, Benson Carisi tells us in our video preview. “She said he tried to play it off as if she wet the bed,” she adds. “That’s a good cover story in case she wakes up,” Carisi points out, then checks: “And Judge Andrews was in the hospital? So he knows everything we know?” He does, and that’s a problem. But do they have enough to move forward?

“This is all still circumstantial evidence,” Carisi warns her, but she argues, “We found the exact nightgown that was referenced in the diary and I sent it to the lab.” The problem is that it's itself Given the technology they have now, there is still a “long chance” of obtaining DNA after 20 years.

Then Judge Andrews comes by with his legal team (including guest star Mark Moses) to see Carisi. Watch the full sneak peek above to learn more, including why the judge is there.

Fans get twice as much Olivia Benson this week, even without a crossover; Hargitay guest stars law and order before that SVU Consequence. “A man creates this app that essentially represents a person, or more specifically, the perfect boyfriend. It turns out there were a lot of people who didn’t like this guy because he created this app.” law and order Showrunner Rick Eid told us. “The reason why this guy was killed turns out to be a very complicated and timely issue that captivates Captain Benson. She becomes a pretty integral part of the episode. She already has a relationship with the defendant. It gets pretty intense and I think it’s a really powerful episode.”

What do you hope to achieve from this episode and this season? Let us know in the comments section below.

Law & Order: SVUThursdays, 9/8c, NBC