Why Did Rafael Barba Leave 'SVU? Is He Returning for Good?Home > Television > Law & Order: Special Victims UnitSource: NBCRaúl Esparza as Counselor Rafael Barba This Beloved ADA Might Be Making a Comeback on ' Law & Order SVU' By Distractify Staff May 19 2022, Updated 11:57 p.m. ET We’ve been introduced to a number of prosecutors since the premiere of Dick Wolf’s procedural crime spinoff Law & Order: Special Victims Unit — including Assistant District Attorney Rafael Barba (played by Raúl Esparza). The no-nonsense attorney made his debut in Season 14 and eventually warmed his way into viewers' hearts. After five seasons as a mainstay on the series, Raúl took viewers by surprise when he announced his exit from the show. However, he’s made several guest appearances since then.Article continues below advertisement Fans were reunited with the longtime cast member yet again in the Season 23 finale episode of Law & Order: SVU. Barba’s return has fans wondering: Why did the actor leave the show in the first place? And is he back for good on SVU? Read on for details!Source: NBC Raúl Esparza as Counselor Rafael BarbaArticle continues below advertisement Why happened to Barba on Law & Order SVU Why did he leave For years, it seemed to viewers there was no case too big for Barba to tackle. That changed in Season 19's "The Undiscovered Country," where ADA Barba reached his limit and resigned after a case proved to be too traumatizing, even for him. In the episode, Barba found himself in the middle of a family’s right-to-die case. In the end, Barba turned off the life support for a boy who would otherwise have needed machinery to survive for the rest of his days. As a result, the prosecutor was indicted for the child's murder. Despite beating the charge, he was way too traumatized by the ordeal to continue his career as a lawyer and resigned altogether after 21 years of working as a prosecutor. And according to Raúl Esperza, it was about time.Article continues below advertisementSource: NBC Abigail Hawk as Maggie Householder, Raúl Esparza as Counselor Rafael Barba He previously told Entertainment Weekly, "I had explored a lot of what I thought Barba was about. I just felt it was time to move on. I was also feeling like the role has changed over the years in a way that has been an interesting experience for me. I just felt I had reached the end of what I wanted to explore where they were writing." But Barba’s story didn’t end there. Since Raúl’s exit from the show, he’s made appearances in Seasons 21, 22, and 23 of SVU. He also made a cameo in the series spinoff Organized Crime. Is this a sign that the actor might be making a comeback to the Law & Order universe?Article continues below advertisementSource: NBC Raúl Esparza as Counselor Rafael Barba, Marika Hargitay as Captain Olivia Benson Is Raúl Esparza returning to Law & Order SVU Details on Barba' s comeback ADAs may come and go, but Barba is forever. The actor discussed the possibility of his return to the series in an interview with TVLine. According to Raúl, showrunners haven’t revealed how big of a role Barba will play in the SVU universe in the years to come. But viewers can pretty much rest assured that the former ADA isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. “We haven’t discussed it, actually,” he told the outlet. “But [Barba is] also part of the universe of Law & Order in both worlds and a very much-loved character… so we’ll see." All 23 seasons of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit are currently streaming on Peacock.AdvertisementMore from Distractify Meet the Latest 'Law & Order: SVU' Guest Star — He and Benson Have a Complex Relationship A Longtime Showrunner Just Announced His Exit From 'Law & Order: SVU' — Here's Why This Tony-Nominated Actress Plays Det. Nadia Szabo on 'Law & Order: SVU' Latest Law & Order: Special Victims Unit News and UpdatesAdvertisementABOUT DistractifyAbout UsPrivacy PolicyTerms of UseDMCASitemapCONNECT with DistractifyLink to Facebook Link to TwitterLink to InstagramContact us by Email Copyright 2022 Distractify. Distractify is a registered trademark. All Rights Reserved. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.