1986
Julia's first big case was defending David Laurent, who was accused of murdering his bitchy wife Madeline Capwell. While working on the case, Julia let David seduce her and fell in love with him. The affair ended badly. It also left Julia with no man in her life. Still, she had a strong desire to become a mother and decided to have a baby on her own. She chose sarcastic lawyer Mason Capwell to impregnate her. They drew up a contract stipulating that Mason would have no legal claim on the baby after it was born. What Julia didn't count on, however, was falling in love with Mason after a few lovemaking sessions. When Mason became involved with actress Victoria (Tori) Lane, Julia was hurt and jealous.

1987
Julia learned she was pregnant with Mason's child. She kept mum about this when Mason married a pregnant Tori Lane and claimed Tori's baby, Chip, as his own. Mason and Julia started working at the same law firm. When Mason finally learned about Julia's pregnancy and her feelings for him, he felt very torn. Later, Julia gave birth to a baby girl, Samantha, with Mason by her side. Shortly after Samantha was born, Mason went missing. During his absence, both Samantha and Chip were kidnapped by a photographer named Paul Marshall. Both babies were recovered, but Paul was shot by Tori. Julia took on Tori's case and got her off. The two women became unlikely friends. When Mason returned, he and Julia joined forces to get Cruz Castillo acquitted of murdering Elena Nikolas. Mason and Julia's love was too strong to deny, and they eventually made love.

1988
Mason divorced Tori to spend his life with Julia and Samantha. Soon, Mason and Julia started having problems because of his drinking problem and his reluctance to marry again. Eventually, Mason proposed to Julia and she accepted. They were happy together until Mason was framed for the murder of Mark McCormick, who had caused problems between Mason and his dead first love, Mary Duvall. Several clues led to a mission where Mary had belonged. Mason went undercover at this mission to solve Mark's murder and was assumed dead following an explosion. When Julia learned of Mason's death, she mourned him deeply. She refused to accept that he was gone, so she went undercover at the mission as Sister Rebecca, and met Father Michael Donnelly, and Sisters Sarah and Agatha. Sister Agatha was found to be Mark's real killer.

Ultimately, Mason resurfaced. He had a split personality and was living in Las Vegas as cowboy Sonny Sprocket. Finding Sonny, Gina Timmons realized he was Mason and convinced Sonny to impersonate Mason to bilk money out of his wealthy father, C.C. Capwell. Since Sonny didn't want to marry Julia, he and Gina arranged for Julia to see them in a compromising situation on the night before the wedding. Julia was distraught. Although she almost went through with the wedding, she left Mason at the altar. A few days later, Julia was kidnapped by the "video rapist." After Father Michael saved her life, Julia was in a vulnerable state and made love to the priest.

1989
Julia learned about Mason's split personality and tried to stop him from marrying Gina Timmons. Mason was shot at the altar. After a brief coma, he woke up and Sonny was gone for good. Mason and Julia reunited and became engaged again. They also started a law firm together, naming it Capwell & Capwell. They later had a beautiful wedding, with most of their friends and family in attendance. About a month after the wedding, Mason disappeared yet again. He didn't return until, months later, a mobster named Anthony Tonell arranged for Julia to go on trial for the murder of Bunny Tagliatti. Mason saved Julia by revealing that Bunny was alive. Later that year, Julia learned of Mason's recent affair with Sasha Schmidt in Palm Springs.

1990
Julia refused to forgive Mason for his affair with Sasha Schmidt. Later, Sasha started blackmailing Mason with fake information that could put Julia in jail. Mason and Julia plotted to get Sasha out of their lives by making her think that Julia wanted to kill her. The plan worked. But as Julia and Mason were starting to work their way back to each other, Julia discovered Sasha's dead body in her bed! Panicking, the couple hid Sasha in the freezer and then the Capwell crypt while they tried to find out who killed her. Eventually, with the help of Sasha's sister, Sydney Schmidt, Mason and Julia were able to prove that crazy Laura Asher, the D.A.'s wife, was Sasha's real killer.

Julia joined the Blue Sky Brigade, an environmental group headed by the charismatic Dash Nichols. The group opposed Mason's project to build a new resort, the Capwell Oasis. Mason and Julia (pictured) started having problems because of this, and Mason's drinking problem resurfaced. Julia decided to end their marriage. Heartbroken, she slept with Dash on the rebound. Later, when she wanted to break things off with him, he raped her.

1991
Julia got her day in court with Dash. Needless to say, she was hurt and angry when the jury found Dash not guilty of raping her. Taking matters into her own hands, she abducted Dash at gunpoint and took him to a secluded cabin. She intended to hold him there until he confessed, but the plan backfired. To make matters worse, Dash began having an affair with Julia's shrink, Denise Foxworthy. Eventually, Dash realized that he had indeed raped Julia and admitted his crime. Meanwhile, Julia became the new district attorney and began spending time with David Raymond, her former law professor.

1992
Julia and Mason were drawn together once again. She agreed to remarry him. Mason then tricked Julia into thinking she was going to a memorial service for his uncle Grant, and when she got there, he had a wedding all planned! Julia was furious. She soon calmed down and agreed to go through with the wedding. Mason and Julia then moved into Ballymoor, the mansion they were married in. That turned out to be a mistake. Not only did Ballymoor seem to be haunted, both Julia and Samantha came down with a rare illness and nearly died. Having had more than enough of Ballymoor, Mason and Julia moved into the Capwell mansion. They also ran against each other for judge. The election was held and Julia won by one vote. Around this time, Mason and Julia found themselves unable to have another child. Mason rejected Julia's suggestion that they could adopt a baby. They then encountered a pregnant hitchhiker, Gracie Lively.

1993
When Gracie went into labor at the Capwell mansion, Mason and Julia were forced to deliver the baby themselves. As they were deciding to adopt the baby, Julia announced that she was pregnant.