Kovat was a Cardassian who served as a Public Conservator in the Cardassian system of jurisprudence. He was very adept at crafting guilty pleas. According to Cardassian law, an accused person was guilty – not guilty until proven innocent, simply guilty. He was due to retire in 2371. Benjamin Sisko was able to prove that the charges were fabricated by the Cardassian government; rather than face embarrassment, the court released O'Brien. When Kovat asked what happened, Odo told him he won, he replied in mortal fear, "They'll kill me." (DS9: "Tribunal") Kovat was played by Fritz Weaver.