What is the name of the character played by Judith Light on SVU?

The character played by Judith Light on SVU is Judge Elizabeth Donnelly. Light first appeared as Donnelly in the season 3 episode “Guilt,” which aired in 2002. Donnelly initially served as the Manhattan District Attorney’s Bureau Chief Assistant District Attorney, supervising Alexandra Cabot and later Casey Novak.

In season 7, Donnelly became a judge, but she occasionally returned to prosecutorial work. In “Persona,” she took a leave from the bench to prosecute a cold case dating to the 1970s, a case connected to her own past decisions. Her strong moral compass and uncompromising approach often made her an intimidating presence for prosecutors and detectives alike.

A common mix-up is confusing Donnelly with Sonya Paxton, another prominent female attorney on SVU. Paxton was played by Christine Lahti, while Donnelly was played by Judith Light. Donnelly also differs from Alexandra Cabot and Casey Novak: she supervised both women before moving from the District Attorney’s Office to the judiciary.