The 10 Most Jaw-Dropping Court Cases From The Practice That Still Give Fans Nightmares

David E. Kelley's hit legal drama 'The Practice' originally aired from 1997 to 2004 and was a staple of many viewers' weekly routines. The show's formula for success was its no-holds-barred approach to tackling a wide array of challenging and often out-of-the-ordinary cases. Over its ten seasons, the show managed to expertly weave in drama, action, suspense, and on occasion, comedy.

One of the standout aspects of 'The Practice' was the vast number of unique and sometimes bizarre cases its characters had to tackle. For a show that ran as long as it did, it's no wonder its writers had the leeway to get super creative with the situations the main characters often found themselves in.

Take for instance the episode where Bobby Donnell had to defend a man who swore up and down he was actually Superman. Yes, you read that correctly - Superman. As expected, the hilarity that ensued was like something straight out of 'The Twilight Zone,' replete with ridiculous anecdotes, cross-examination shenanigans, and enough real courtroom drama that you were kept on the edge of your seat at the same time.

Or how about when they handled an emotionally taxing custody battle over a chimp, even if one party did have what you'd affectionately term an unhealthy obsession? Then there was the particular time that they were tasked with defending a clever and intellectually gifted high schooler that had more in common than just his appearance with 'The Silence of the Lambs' infamous Hannibal Lecter. Those storylines stood out the most, making the show an unforgettable gem that remains etched in the hearts and minds of many die-hard fans today.

Legal dramas are incredibly difficult to execute well, let alone make them unique and worthwhile. 'The Practice' filled all those boxes, making it easy to recognize why its ten-season-long reign as the go-to show for courtroom drama left behind such an imposing legacy in the television world.