First Monday

Pilot

2002-01-15 · 60m

New Justice Joseph Novelli reports for the first Monday in October and handles his first case: whether to grant a stay of execution to an inmate who survived a lightning strike.

Age of Consent

2002-01-18 · 60m

Justice Novelli is uncertain of his position when the court must decide if a North Dakota court decision to allow a 16-year-old girl to get an abortion should stand.

The Price of Liberty

2002-01-25 · 60m

The Court must rule on sixth-amendment rights when a murder witness requests to testify in a mask after three previous witnesses are killed.

Crime and Punishment

2002-02-01 · 60m

Justice Novelli once again finds he's the swing vote when the Court is divided on whether to uphold the three-strikes law carrying a 25-years-to-life sentence for third-strike misdemeanors.

Family Affairs

2002-02-08 · 60m

A senator with a grudge against Justice Novelli gives a reporter photos of Novelli's uncle accepting an envelope from a Chicago mobster, hoping the photo will discredit the Justice.

Dangerous Words

2002-03-01 · 60m

As the court considers whether to uphold a decision that protects a Web site calling for the murder of abortion doctors, Novelli is threatened on the Internet.

Right to Die

2002-03-08 · 60m

Justice Hoskins takes a passionate interest in the Court's case of a woman who wants to terminate life support for her husband, who has been in a coma for nine years.

Court Date

2002-03-29 · 60m

A high-school basketball star appeals to the Supreme Court when the NBA refuses to let him play professionally until he finishes school.

Secrets and Lies

2002-04-05 · 60m

The Court must decide whether to uphold Megan's Law when they hear the case of a convicted sex offender who was harassed and threatened after registering.

Unprotected Speech

2002-04-12 · 60m

The case of a teen accused of violating the Child Pornography Protection Act by morphing his friends' faces with bodies of porn actors on an Internet site.

Strip Search

2002-04-19 · 60m

The Court must determine whether a man's Constitutional rights were violated when the police took his blood sample out of a hospital dumpster to obtain DNA.

Showdown

2002-04-22 · 60m

As the Court debates whether a town's ban on guns is unconstitutional, a senator offers Justice Snow information on a colleague that could affect the final decision. Also: Justice Hoskins hosts his annual party, where Ellie catches Miguel's eye; and Chief Justice Brankin and his wife celebrate 40 years of marriage.

Family Secrets

2002-05-03 · 60m

The Court must decide whether to allow a book culled from the tapes of a deceased CIA officer to be published or allow censorship in order to protect national security.