In July 2025, fans of NBC’s long-running procedural were surprised to learn that Mehcad Brooks, who played Detective Jalen Shaw for three seasons, would not return for Law & OrderSeason 25. The news of Brooks’ leaving Law & Order sparked widespread curiosity, especially since Shaw had become a fan-favorite and one of the most dynamic characters on the show.
Why did Law & Order’s Mehcad Brooks have to leave before Season 25?
The exact reason why Mehcad Brooks left the show remains unclear at the time of writing.
However, according to sources and whistleblowers, Brooks decided to part ways with the show to pursue new acting projects beyond Law & Order. Also, the long-running show has been facing some budget tightening for some time, which may have influenced the decision.
The news of Brooks leaving the show was first reported by Deadline.
What happened to Mehcad Brooks’ Jalen Shaw in Law & Order Season 25?
Since Brooks won’t be part of the 25th iteration, fans couldn’t help but wonder what would happen to its character, would it be killed, or written off? However, in the Season 25 premiere episode titled “Street Justice”, the show justifies Shaw’s absence.
Lt. Jessica Brady, one of the important characters on the show, tells Detective Riley that Shaw has moved to Brooklyn, transferring to the 88th Precinct. To this, Riley answers that it makes sense because Shaw has always wanted to return to Brooklyn.
So, Shaw isn’t killed off, nor is there a big swan song. He’s simply moved on professionally in the show. Meanwhile, in Season 25, the show is bringing David Ajala as a detective to fill Shaw’s slot.
Law & Order first came to fruition in 1990 and became a huge success, running for 20 seasons before wrapping up in 2010. More than a decade later, NBC brought it back in 2022 with Season 21.
