David Roberts was not designed as a background figure. He serves as an essential link in the legal machinery that threatens to crush the central characters. Sullivan balanced procedural utility with underlying human vulnerability. In courtroom dramas, minor characters carry the burden of world-building; one unconvincing exchange breaks the audience’s suspension of disbelief.
Sullivan’s work avoided that trap completely. His interactions with key legal figures highlighted the personal consequences of municipal power plays. That balance earned him genuine respect among television writers and industry insiders who prioritize grounded character work over flashier, showy appearances.
