 When Novak and SVU detectives are unable to link the homicide to the bugging, Donnelly is reluctantly forced to dismiss the case, due to lack of witness testimony, though it is later discovered that the defendants indeed bribed a court officer to bug her office.Donnelly helps to catch the officer responsible and interrogate her.In the season 9 episode "", Donnelly calls Novak to her office and informed her that she would be censured and suspended for possibly a year or more for violating Brady rules.