GENERAL HOSPITAL's Sonny may be the capo di tutti capi in Port Charles, but not everyone is in awe of him. Two of those folks had big scenes this week, and what a surprise, they're both lawyers. (C'mon, aren't attorneys scarier than coffee importers? Admit it.)

I was cheering when Diane not only stood up to Sonny, she told him he was wrong for wanting to plead justifiable homicide in the death of Claudia. Carolyn Hennesy shined as she stiffened Diane's spine and told Sonny what he needed to hear — no matter how much he plugged his ears. And she kept right on butting heads with the mobster, right into the courtroom. When he undermined her and made himself look like a thug by demanding a recess, she called him on it. Diane did the best she could to convince the judge that Sonny was a loving family man (even if he was charged with killing his wife). I felt bad for Diane arguing that Sonny was not a flight risk — even as he and Jason frantically made plans to jump bail! Poor Diane. Whatever her retainer, she's not getting paid nearly enough!

The other legal eagle who defied the kingpin was newly minted federal prosecutor Claire Walsh, played by the newly arrived Dahlia Salem. On her very first day Claire strong-armed Ed, the weak-kneed prosecutor originally assigned to the case, to let her take down the mobster. And on her first time in court she declared her intention to lock up Sonny and then lambasted him in front of the judge as the criminal he is.

With these two formidable ladies before the bar, I wouldn't advise acting against advice of counsel.