Jeri Hogarth

"The real world is not about happy endings. It's about taking the life you have, and fighting like hell to keep it."

- Jeri Hogarth

Jeryn "Jeri" Hogarth is a "no-nonsense" lawyer who could prove a powerful ally to Jessica Jones — if she doesn't completely alienate her first. While taking on the case of Hope Shlottman, Hogarth became involved in the hunt for Kilgrave which resulted in Hogarth's personal and professional life crumbling.

Proposal
Hogarth asked her girlfriend Wendy Ross to marry her by putting an engagement ring at the bottom of a tiramisu dessert when they were at dinner. Ross almost choked on the ring before she discovered it.

Marriage
During their marriage, Wendy Ross-Hogarth would sacrifice opportunities and money so that Hogarth could complete law school. Ross-Hogarth took Hogarth to Paris to celebrate their tenth wedding anniversary, but Hogarth spent much of her time on the phone with a client.

Job Offer
Hogarth offered Jessica Jones a job as the private investigator for Hogarth, Chao and Benowitz, but Jones refused the offer, even using foul language to accentuate the point. Hogarth was disappointed, because even though Jones' style was unorthodox and received various complaints, it was effective. Hogarth decided to hire someone else to be the firm's investigator.

Stripper Case
Hogarth was walking by the receptionist's desk at Hogarth, Chao and Benowitz Office as Pam and Jessica Jones were talking; Jones approached her, asking if she had a case Jones could investigate. Hogarth told her that someone already had that job; Jones bragged that whoever he was was not as good as she was. Hogarth agreed, reminding Jones that she was offered the position but adamantly refused it; Jones asked her to excuse it saying she was more than likely drunk. Jones then stopped Hogarth by asking her politely for a case.

Hogarth took Jones to her office and handed her a subpoena for Gregory Spheeris, a strip-club owner who was being sued by an ex-employee who fell when the pole she was using broke, causing her brain damage, but Spheeris believed that she was always dim-witted. Hogarth told Jones that Spheeris had too many bodyguards for anyone to serve him. Surprised that Hogarth was representing an ordinary person, as opposed to a major company or rich client, Jones took the case.

Affair
A few days later, Jones sent a picture that she had served Gregory Spheeris a subpoena; however, Spheeris' lawyer complained that Jones had lifted Spheeris' car and threatened to blast him with her "laser eyes". Hogarth, looking out the window at the city at night, called Jones to ask what happened and she confirmed the confrontation. Pam quietly came behind her, kissing her and caressing her softly. Distracted, Hogarth complimented Jones on her work and told her that she would be paid soon. Then, quickly ending the conversation, Hogarth turned her attention to Pam.

The next day, Hogarth got a call from Jones, requesting her money immediately; Hogarth told her that she knew the procedure with the payroll department. Jones asked for a loan and was quickly denied. As Hogarth, who was leaving for the day, approached the receptionist desk, Pam walked slowly toward her, smiling. Hogarth ignored her and turned to her wife who kissed her and walked with her with her arm around her. The following day, Jones had a meeting with Hogarth, asking the lawyer to take the case of Hope Shlottman, a young college girl who killed her parents. Hogarth refused, believing that the evidence showed Shlottman as guilty and Hogarth had no intention of losing. During the conversation, Pam interrupted; she said that Hogarth's wife was calling and demanded to talk to her. Hogarth told Pam that she would call her back; Jones closed the door on Pam because she refused to leave. Continuing their conversation, Jones told Hogarth that she would owe her a favor if she took the Shlottman case. Intrigued that Jones felt so strongly about this woman's dilemma, Hogarth told Jones to get proof that there were other circumstances behind the double homicide. As Jones exited, Pam returned and told Hogarth to take the phone call because her wife knew about their affair.

Visiting Shlottman
Hogarth went to the facility where Hope Shlottman was being detained and told her that she was her new lawyer because if she kept the public defender assigned to her, she would receive a double life sentence. Shlottman did not respond. Hogarth then name-dropped that Jessica Jones believed in her innocence and was working to find others who were abused by Kilgrave. Shlottman looked up, wondering if there were others besides Jones and her to whom this happened. Hogarth was surprised because Jones had not told her that she was a victim also; Hogarth told Shlottman to reveal all she knew.

Talk Radio Interview
Hogarth decided to file for divorce from her wife, asking Desmond Tobey to handle the case.

Jessica Jones abruptly entered Hogarth's office; Hogarth quickly told her to stop doing that. Jones wanted her to have a press conference to defend the actions of Hope Shlottman to the public, but Hogarth refused, citing that she cares little about the court of public opinion, only the real legal system. Jones accused her cowardice; Hogarth cited that what she does is a tried-and-true strategy and she was not going to jeopardize her credibility by openly stating that she believed in mind control. Hogarth told Jones to bring her other victims of Kilgrave, starting with herself, a statement that surprised Jones until she realized that Shlottman must have told Hogarth that she was a victim. Jones said she was too busy trying to capture Kilgrave to do Hogarth's job for her.

Hogarth was soon called by Trish Walker, who wanted a phone interview with her and Shlottman; Hogarth agreed and scheduled it for the next day. During the interview, Hogarth held her cell phone near Shlottman as the detainee described how Kilgrave took control of her and suppressed her natural desires and instincts. After the interview, Hogarth told Walker that Shlottman was insane because there was no such thing as telepathic mind control. Walker defended Shlottman to her listeners and began to insult Kilgrave, all a plan of Hogarth to have Walker do her work for her by persuading the public that telepaths can exist in a world with the Avengers. Hogarth witnessed as Shlottman became erratic upon hearing Kilgrave's voice when he called WNEX Station, wondering why Walker was insulting him if she truly believed that he could control minds.

Confronting Ross
Jessica Jones ignored Pam and entered Hogarth's office as she was negotiating with Larry, who represented a company that used legal loopholes and caused puppies to be poisoned by his client's product; the settlement would have been lucrative, but Jones' presence caused Hogarth to reschedule the conversation. Jones wanted to know if Audrey Eastman was referred to her by Desmond Tobey, but Tobey refused to talk, citing confidentiality, so she went to Hogarth. Irked, Hogarth confirmed that Eastman was a client of Hogarth, Chao and Benowitz and that Tobey was a trustworthy lawyer, so much so, Hogarth had him working on her divorce. As she exited, Hogarth told Jones to relax because she seemed paranoid.

Hogarth chose to take Pam to one of her favorite restaurants for lunch. While the two walked, Pam felt that Hogarth was changing, spending too much time worried about work, and wanted the woman with whom she fell in love to return. Hogarth decided to give Pam her full attention. As they were about to enter the establishment, they saw Wendy Ross-Hogarth exiting; Wendy could not believe that Jeri was taking Pam to the same restaurant where they had gotten engaged. Wendy told Pam, who was visibly upset, how Jeri proposed. Jeri retorted that if Wendy had hoped to breakup her new relationship, it would not result in them reconciling. Wendy left speechless. Jeri, thinking of the restaurant as common property, said that Wendy was not getting it in the divorce; Pam, refusing to eat there, said that Wendy was.

Kilgrave Support Group
Hogarth returned to the office of Hogarth, Chao and Benowitz to find it flooded with people who wanted to prove that they were victims of Kilgrave; not wanting to deal with them, she called Jessica Jones, telling her that there was an emergency. Jones protested, saying that she had other cases, including pursuing Kilgrave, but Hogarth invoked that Jones owed her a favor. Hogarth wanted Jones to find something less-than-stellar about Ross-Hogarth so she can use it during the divorce proceedings. Jones said she would try; her attention then turned to the flood of clients.

In a conference room, Hogarth and Jones, with a cameraman, began listening to the testimonies of different people who blamed Kilgrave for their unusual behaviors. Often, the people were not victims of Kilgrave; however, there were a few who Jones knew were victims by their knowing key nuances of the telepath.

After the interviews, Jones collected the people; Hogarth noted that it was a Kilgrave Support Group and asked Jones if she would participate. Jones reminded Hogarth that Jones was busy as well as anti-social. Hogarth noted that Kilgrave, if he was good, would be someone with whom she could work. Jones became extremely offended and hit the paned glass of the conference room, cracking it and scaring the group members, before she stormed off.

Days later, Hogarth called Jones asking if she was trying to pay her debt; Jones told her not at that moment.

Hiring the Lawyer for the Heroes
Marci Stahl, an employee of Hogarth, recommended Foggy Nelson as a valuable attorney to recruit with his firm, Nelson and Murdock, collapsing after losing the highly publicized Punisher trial. Hogarth approached Foggy, offering him a position in the firm, stating that his "out-of-the-box" thinking would be a great asset for the firm, believing that the city will see more cases involving "vigilantes" and will need people as bold as Nelson to pursue those cases.

Personality
"You're disgusting." "She's pragmatic."

- Wendy Ross-Hogarth and Kilgrave about Jeri Hogarth

Cold and ruthless, Jeri is a woman who never ceased to manipulate a person to serve her interests.

Jeri is also opportunistic and slightly naive; she believed that Kilgrave could be the key to solving her divorce problem with Wendy. Kilgrave instead forced her ex-wife to kill her with a thousand cuts until Pam intervened.

Abilities

 * Expert Lawyer: Jeri established the law firm Hogarth, Chao and Benowitz and specializes in criminal law, never losing a case. She has the ability to analyze how a jury will think and manipulate circumstances to her favor, exemplified by when she used Trish Walker to change public opinion on the possible existence of mind controllers. When focused, Jeri can negotiate to make other litigators settle out of court, thus continuing her reputed winning streak. However, since that is not her specialty, she allowed an attorney to handle her divorce proceedings.

Family

 * Wendy Ross-Hogarth † - Wife

Allies

 * Pam - Former Secretary and Former Girlfriend
 * Jessica Jones - Employee and Client
 * Desmond Tobey - Partner and Lawyer
 * Hope Shlottman † - Client
 * Trish Walker
 * Oscar Clemons †
 * Kilgrave Support Group - Founder
 * Donald
 * Clair
 * Emma
 * Jackson
 * Albert Thompson †
 * Louise Thompson † - Accidental Victim
 * Justin Boden - Client
 * Foggy Nelson - Employee

Enemies

 * Kilgrave †
 * Gregory Spheeris
 * Samantha Reyes - Opposing District Attorney

Trivia

 * In the comics, Jeryn Hogarth is a businessman who worked with Wendell Rand, Danny Rand's father. The character's gender was changed from male to female for the show.