Judge Peter Carroll was a fictional character on the popular daytime soap opera General Hospital. He was portrayed by Dakin Matthews.
Storylines
Sonny's Trial
Judge Carroll is called in by Jasper Jacks to prosecute Sonny Corinthos for the murder of his wife, Claudia Zacchara. After sitting through the courtroom "theatrics," he declares Sonny free on bail. Meanwhile, Jason, Carly, and Sonny arrange for Michael, the actual murderer, to be sent to the island.
Prosecution
Federal prosecutor Claire Walsh summons Claudia's brother, Johnny Zacchara, to testify. Chaos erupts when Johnny claims Sonny abused his sister. Court is dismissed and the judge reprimands both Diane and Claire. After Johnny is recalled and dismissed again, Robin is called to testify. She tries to paint Sonny in a good light, but is forced to admit that Sonny demeaned Claudia and swore that it would be the last time she ever lied.
Claire informs the judge that they need Maxie Jones' testimony to proceed, but Diane says she cannot testify as she is in the hospital. Maxie tries to get out of it by appearing sicker than she really is, but to no avail. Maxie testifies that she witnessed Sonny get out of Michael's car with a bloody handprint on his shirt. When asked if Michael was in the car, she swears under oath that she couldn't tell.
While Olivia testifies that she doesn't know where Michael was on the night of Claudia's murder, Ronnie tries to locate Michael. He tells Claire that he can't find him. She tells him that they will have to find someone else, and she decides that Sonny's other son, Morgan Corinthos, will work.
Ronnie takes him out of school and brings him to the courthouse to testify. When Morgan gives his testimony, his older brother, Dante Falconeri, comes in and demands the judge let Morgan leave, particularly because Claire had Morgan pulled out of school without Carly's knowledge. Judge Carroll has Dante placed under arrest for contempt of court and allows Morgan to go home with his mother. After going through proper procedure, Morgan is recalled and Dante advises him to simply tell the truth. Morgan returns home upset thinking that he will be the reason Sonny is sent to prison. Carly tells her son that Claire will be out of a job soon enough.
Defense
Carly is called to the stand and shows up in court with Josslyn. Claire objects, saying Carly is trying to sway the jury, but Carly says that her nanny wasn't available. The judge orders a recess, and Carly comes back without Josslyn and swears that Sonny killed Claudia on accident and that it was justifiable homicide, which only further weakens Claire's case against Sonny.
Michael Confesses
A few weeks later, Alice is about to announce the jury's verdict, but Dante comes in and tells the judge that Sonny didn't kill Claudia- Michael did. The jury is ordered back to their room and to dismiss Dante's outburst. After hearing Dante out, the judge orders a warrant for Michael so he can question him. Carly is called back up to the stand since she perjured herself earlier, but she maintains that Sonny killed Claudia and Michael walked in afterwards. After Michael is found at the Quartermaine boathouse, he is taken to court and questioned by the judge. He recounts the night's events and Judge Carroll thanks him for his cooperation. He remands Michael into custody to await sentencing on Friday with no bail. Dante leads Michael away and the judge tells Sonny that he is free to go, but charges could still be brought against him for the cover-up.
Michael's sentencing
On Friday, the day of Michael's sentencing, Johnny testifies that Claudia would not want Michael to pay for her murder. The judge thanks him and then sentences Michael to five years in prison with the possibility of parole in two. He comments that everyone in the courtroom should be punished for their acts, but watching Michael go to prison will have to be punishment enough. Everyone is taken aback by the unfair ruling, and Dante and Claire are hit the hardest; Dante had believed all along that Judge Carroll would see Sonny as detrimental to Michael's well-being and pass a lenient sentence on him, and Claire had always believed that Sonny was Claudia's killer and never expected that it was Michael. Johnny rails at Dante and blames him for protecting Sonny once again and sending Michael to prison. Outside the courtroom, Morgan, Kristina, and Molly rail at Dante and blame him for sending Michael to prison as well, with Morgan calling Dante a liar and wishing he was dead, Kristina blaming him for using everyone to hurt Michael, and Molly railing about how cops are supposed to help people instead of sending them to prison.
Judge Carroll goes over to the police station on May 14 and Dante and Lucky try to get him to rethink Michael's sentencing, but he tells them his ruling is final. After he leaves, Lucky suggests they find something to blackmail him with. They enlist Lulu and Jax's help, but they are unable to come up with anything. Lucky asks Dante how desperate he is, but Dante refuses to fabricate evidence.
Michael's release
In mid-July, Dante visits Judge Carroll in his chambers and requests that Michael be released. The judge says he will allow Michael to be released from prison under certain conditions. Michael has to live with Dante, wear an ankle monitor, and have minimal contact with Sonny. Dante agrees on Michael's behalf.
The judge visits Johnny in jail and Johnny insists that Sonny framed him. Johnny warns him not to trust Claire because she is getting close to Sonny. He tells him he will launch an investigation on her.
Impact off-screen
Though he has yet to make any further appearances on-screen, Judge Carroll has had further influence off-screen. On November 17, 2010, he approves of a petition set by Claire to allow Sonny and Michael contact with one another whenever they want to see each other, and on June 15, 2011, he agrees to let Michael off parole two months early after hearing from Dante that Michael has made a lot of progress and that he has just graduated from high school.
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General Hospital
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Current Contract Characters
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Curtis Ashford · Jordan Ashford · Peter August · Franco Baldwin · Ava Cassadine · Nikolas Cassadine · Harrison Chase · Laura Collins · Brando Corbin · Carly Corinthos · Michael Corinthos · Sonny Corinthos · Willow Corinthos · Alexis Davis · Anna Devane · Dr. Hamilton Finn · Sasha Gilmore · Jasper Jacks · Josslyn Jacks · Maxie Jones · Sam McCall · Jason Morgan · Brook Lynn Quartermaine · Nina Reeves · Dr. Portia Robinson · Trina Robinson · Cameron Webber · Nurse Elizabeth Webber-Baldwin
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Current Recurring Characters
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T.J. Ashford · Scott Baldwin · Brick · Valentin Cassadine · Lenny Caulfield · Nurse Phyllis Caulfield · Dr. Ryan Chamberlain · Lucy Coe · Dr. Kevin Collins · Brad Cooper · Gladys Corbin · Kristina Corinthos-Davis · Nurse Amy Driscoll · Nurse Felix DuBois · Max Giambetti · Milo Giambetti · Florence Grey · Martin Grey · Stella Henry · Nurse Epiphany Johnson · Dr. Lucas Jones · Molly Lansing-Davis · Diane Miller · Dr. Liesl Obrecht · Dr. Monica Quartermaine · Ned Quartermaine · Olivia Quartermaine · Tracy Quartermaine · Dr. Terry Randolph · Cyrus Renault · Felicia Scorpio · Mac Scorpio · Robert Scorpio · Nurse Deanna Sirtis · Nurse Bobbie Spencer · Valerie Spencer · Damian Spinelli · Jackie Templeton · Dr. Britt Westbourne
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Current Child Characters
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Scout Cain · Charlotte Cassadine · Spencer Cassadine · Donna Corinthos · Leo Falconeri · Rocco Falconeri · Violet Finn · Avery Jerome-Corinthos · Danny Morgan · Andy Nero · Wiley Quartermaine-Corinthos · Emma Scorpio-Drake · Noah Scorpio-Drake · Aiden Spencer · Jake Spencer · Georgie Spinelli · James West
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Deceased and Presumed Dead Characters
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Benny Abrahms · Bernie Abrahms · Dr. Rachel Adair · Diego Alcazar · Lorenzo Alcazar · Luis Alcazar · Sage Alcazar · Ruby Anderson · Dr. Andy Archer · Hank Archer · Tom Baker · Dominique Baldwin · Lee Baldwin · Dr. Gail Baldwin · Anton Banovic · Cooper Barrett · Alison Barrington · Amanda Barrington · Evelyn Bass · Kiefer Bauer · Warren Bauer · Jesse Beaudry · Claudette Beaulieu · Katherine Bell · Nelle Benson-Jerome · Kristin Bergman · Connor Bishop · Mary Bishop · Paige Bowen · Nurse Jessie Brewer · Nancy Brewer · Dr. Phil Brewer · Joey Bruzetta · Dr. Neil Byrne · Drew Cain · Carter · Helena Cassadine · Irina Cassadine · Kristina Cassadine · Mikkos Cassadine · Petros Cassadine · Stavros Cassadine · Stefan Cassadine · Tony Cassadine · Victor Cassadine · Stone Cates · Dev Cerci · Dr. Silas Clay · Stephen Clay · Wiley Cooper-Jones · Mike Corbin · Adela Corinthos · Lily Corinthos · Morgan Corinthos · Dr. Alex Devane · Dr. Ian Devlin · Mickey Diamond · Ronnie Dimestico · Sean Donely · Dr. Pierce Dorman · John Durant · J.T. Dykstra · Bill Eckert · Cesar Faison · Connie Falconeri · Andrea Floyd · Dr. Russell Ford · Gordon Grey · Summer Halloway · David Hamilton · Dr. Steve Hardy · Peter Harrell, Sr. · Peter Harrell, Jr. · Abby Haver · Logan Hayes · Theo Hoffman · Lady Jane Jacks · John Jacks · Aleksander Janacek · Julian Jerome · Kiki Jerome · Victor Jerome · Stan Johnson · B.J. Jones · Georgie Jones · Tania Jones · Dr. Tony Jones · Dr. Ewen Keenan · Dr. Warren Kirk · Rafe Kovich, Jr. · Dr. Eve Lambert · Trevor Lansing · Duke Lavery · Dr. Cameron Lewis · Victor Lord III · Hope Manning-Thornhart · Nurse Lucille March-Weeks · Reese Marshall · Courtney Matthews · Dr. Matthew Mayes · Cody McCall · Danny McCall · Lila McCall · Nurse Leyla Mir · Trey Mitchell · Susan Moore · Chloe Morgan · Henry Nakamura · Oscar Nero-Quartermaine · Dr. Lisa Niles · Dustin Phillips · A.J. Quartermaine · Dr. Alan Quartermaine · Alexandria Quartermaine · Edward Quartermaine · Dr. Emily Quartermaine · Lila Quartermaine · Madeline Reeves · Carlos Rivera · Faith Rosco · Javier Ruiz · Manny Ruiz · Gabriel Santiago · Nurse Sabrina Santiago · Joe Scully · Joe Scully, Jr. · Kyle Sloane · Damian Smith · Frank Smith · Shirley Smith · Zander Smith · Lena Spencer · Pat Spencer · Siobhan Spencer · Tim Spencer · Cheryl Stansbury · Marcus Taggert · Nurse Diana Taylor · Martha Taylor · Dr. Peter Taylor · Tracy Taylor · Dr. Asher Thomas · Cole Thornhart · Rudy Trujillo · Nurse Amy Vining · Bradley Ward · Justus Ward · Mary Mae Ward · Dr. Rick Webber · Nathan West · Dr. Karen Wexler · Dawn Winthrop · Deke Woods · Dr. Maggie Wurth · Anthony Zacchara · Claudia Zacchara-Corinthos
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Off-screen and Former Characters
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Samira Adin · Lila Rae Alcazar · Dr. Grant Andrews · Terri Arnett · Larry Ashton · Seth Baker · Christina Baldwin · Serena Baldwin · Dr. Tom Baldwin · Alec Barrett · Brenda Barrett · Julia Barrett · Hayden Barnes · Melinda Bauer · Melissa Bedford · Nora Buchanan · Shawn Butler · Gia Campbell · Peter Carroll · Dimitri Cassadine · Jagger Cates · Nurse Francesca Cavallo · Lois Cerullo · Skye Chandler-Quartermaine · Gregory Chase · Dr. Linda Chu · Father Coates · Darby Collette · Angie Collins · Blair Cramer · Jolene Crowell · Nurse Nadine Crowell · Dr. Rae Cummings · Marco Dane · Margaux Dawson · Oliver De Leon · Téa Delgado · Javier Del Toro · Roy DiLucca · Landon Dixon · Anna Donely · Tiffany Donely · Dr. Noah Drake · Dr. Patrick Drake · Naomi Dreyfus · Chet Driscoll · Taylor DuBois · Toussaint Dubois · Jenny Eckert · Sly Eckert · William Eichner · Angel Ellis · John Everett · Dante Falconeri · Nurse Fletcher · Pres Floyd · Parker Forsyth · Nurse Betsy Frank · Ivy Gatling · Marcus Godfrey · Yvonne Godfrey · Alice Gunderson · Nurse Audrey Hardy · Dr. Simone Hardy · Dr. Tom Hardy · Dr. Tommy Hardy · David Harper · Jimmy Lee Holt · Paul Hornsby · Susan Hornsby · James Horowitz · Dr. Matt Hunter · Anton Ivanov · Jerry Jacks · Terrell Jackson · Miranda Jameson · Olivia Jerome · Frisco Jones · Dr. Leo Julian · Lydia Karenin · Rose Kelly · Cassius Kibideaux · Ric Lansing · Dr. Kelly Lee · Winifred Leeds · Guy Lewis · Janice Lomax · Victor Lord, Jr. · Ethan Lovett · Huxley Lynch · Dr. Andre Maddox · Starr Manning · Todd Manning · Rosalie Martinez · John McBain · Colleen McHenry · Maggie McMorris · James Meadows · Jake Meyer · Lorraine Miller · Martina Morales · Miguel Morez · Hope Morgan · Ken Morgan · Decker Moss · Dr. Griffin Munro · Dr. Kim Nero · Delores Padilla · Blackie Parrish · Nurse Penny · Bryan Phillips · Grant Putnam · Celia Quartermaine · Dillon Quartermaine · Burt Ramsey · Coleman Ratcliffe · Dr. Joe Rivera · Teddy Rivera · Cruz Rodriguez · Casey Rogers · Aaron Roland · Father Mateo Ruiz · Delia Ryan Coleridge · Juan Santiago · Dr. Robin Scorpio-Drake · Hannah Scott · Jeffrey Scribner · Rebecca Shaw · Charlene Simpson · Murphy Sinclair · Jennifer Smith · Lucky Spencer · Luke Spencer · Lulu Spencer · Suzanne Stanwyck · Nurse Mischa Stephens · Holly Sutton · Marcus Taggert · Nurse Regina Thompson · Ellie Trout · Claire Walsh · David Walters · Faith Ward · Keesha Ward · Dr. Maya Ward · Heather Webber · Dr. Jeff Webber · Dr. Lesley Webber · Rick Webber, Jr. · Dr. Sarah Webber · Dr. Steve Webber · Rhonda Wexler · Dr. Lainey Winters · Prunella Witherspoon · Grace Yang · Johnny Zacchara
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Current Crew
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Dan O'Connor (Head writer, 2019-present) · Frank Valentini (Executive producer, 2012-present) · Chris Van Etten (Head writer, 2017-present)
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Former Crew
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Shelly Altman (Head writer, 2011-2012, 2015-2019) · Ron Carlivati (Head writer, 2012-2015) · Jill Farren Phelps (Executive producer, 2001-2012) · Robert Guza, Jr. (Head writer, 1996, 1997-2000, 2002-2008, 2008-2011) · H. Wesley Kenney (Executive producer, 1987-1989; Head writer, 1988) · Gloria Monty (Executive producer, 1978-1987, 1991-1992; Head writer, 1981) · Jean Passanante (Head writer, 2015-2017) · Wendy Riche (Executive producer, 1992-2001) · Garin Wolf (Head writer, 2008, 2011-2012)
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Related Topics
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List of cast members · List of current actors · History of General Hospital
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