Not only does Batman create these so called super criminals, he takes it upon himself to be their judge and jury with no regard for the legal system.
„
~ Janet about Batman's way of taking the law into his own hands.
“
I see now there's a need for the things you do. But I'm still going to work towards a city that doesn't need Batman.
„
~ Janet to Batman
Janet Van Dorn or Janet Dorn is a minor supporting character in Batman the Animated Series. She acts as Gotham City's new District Attorney after Harvey Dent turned into Two-Face.
When Police Commissioner James Gordon was accused of accepting bribes from well-known mob boss Rupert Thorne, Barbara Gordon told her to help bail out her dad as he was likely framed. Van Dorn told her the evidence was solid enough to preven her from dropping the charges or allowing Gordon to get out of jail.
Trial[]
At the courthouse in Gotham, Poison Ivy stands on trial and is sent back to Arkham Asylum since she was captured by Batman and not by a police officer, Janet is deeply upset about the outcome because Ivy wasn't sentenced to life in prison, and she blames this on Batman. Ivy meets Harley; Harley tells her they're planning something big at the asylum. At the Police Department, Van Dorn tells Commissioner Gordon how she feels about Batman just before the hero enters the room with a gang leader dangling from the roof. She gets more frustrated at Batman for this before picking up a batarang which would be useful for later. She then warns Batman that she would start a crusade against him if necessary.
Both she and Batman are later abducted by Batman's rouges' gallery and brought to Arkham Asylum, where they hold a twisted trial for the purpose of indicting him for causing them to become insane costumed criminal, and in an ironic twist due to her dislike/disapproval of him, she has to defend him, otherwise both of them shall die if they fail. The villains are called up to the jury to testify, during which Van Dorn does her best to prove that they are criminals because of themselves and not because of Batman. In the end, Van Dorn concludes it wasn't Batman that made them, but the other way around. However, the inmates decide to kill both of them anyway; the inmates then strapped Batman into a security bed, intending to use electroshock therapy on him. Just as Joker walks towards him in an attempt to take the cowl off his face, Janet remembers the batarang she got earlier and tosses it into the only light bulb in the room. Batman uses the opportunity to free himself, fight back and grab Janet so the two could escape the asylum.
Almost all the psychopaths are arrested by the police force, except for Joker who battles Batman, Batman manages to defeat Joker with him getting locked up. After all the inmates are back in there cells, Janet reconciles with Batman and admits that Gotham does need him after all, but nonetheless declares that she will still work towards a city that doesn't need Batman. Batman replies he would work on the same goal as well.
Riddler's Reform[]
Janet Van Dorn would not make an actual appearance in this episode, and is only mentioned.
Trivia[]
Dorn was voiced by two women, Lynette Mettey and Stephanie Zimbalist. The latter is the daughter of Efrem Zimbalist Jr., who voices Alfred Pennyworth in the same series.