| "Dignity" | ||
|---|---|---|
| ← | L&O, Episode 20.05 | → |
| Production number: 20005 First aired: 23 October 2009 | ||
| Written By Richard Sweren & Julie Martin Directed By Jim McKay | ||
Plot[]
When Doctor Walter Benning is killed in church, Detectives Lupo and Kevin Bernard arrive at the scene and are informed a white male was seen fleeing in a dark sedan. The minister tells the detectives that Dr. Benning was a late-term abortion doctor and had been shot at before and threatened many times, and his wife, Phyllis Benning, is convinced it is a pro-life zealot who is responsible. While the detectives scan the several protester suspects, Lt. Van Buren gets more bad news and ADA Rubirosa faces a moral dilemma, causing tension among the team.
Cast[]
Main cast[]
- Jeremy Sisto as Detective Cyrus Lupo
- Anthony Anderson as Det. Kevin Bernard
- S. Epatha Merkerson as Lieutenant Anita Van Buren
- Linus Roache as Executive Assistant District Attorney Michael Cutter
- Alana De La Garza as ADA Connie Rubirosa
- Sam Waterston as District Attorney Jack McCoy
Recurring cast[]
- Ami Brabson as Judge Madeline Drake
- Tijuana Ricks as Sergeant Royce
- Deirdre O'Connell as Dr. Valerie Knight
- Lou Irizarry as Arraignment Clerk
Guest cast[]
- Matthew Boston as Dr. Walter Benning
- Richard Thomas as Roger Jenkins
- Tracy Sallows as Phyllis Benning
- P.J. Sosko as Wayne Grogan
- Tolan Aman as William Grogan
- Colleen Werthmann as Mrs. Grogan
- Christina Kirk as Jenice Morrow
- Jessica Varley as Blair Morton
- Bill Sage as Kevin Morton
- Enid Graham as Carla Howell
- Jessica Dickey as Lisa Barnett
- Pilar Witherspoon as Patty Larson
- Evan Enderle as Jonah Leland
- Sue-Anne Morrow as Lydia Jones
- Brian Tyree Henry as Ben
- Matthew Hollick as Minister
- Tim Schuebel as Pro-Life Office Worker
- Mark Blum as Pro-Choice Radical
- Eric Deskin as Jury Foreman
References[]
- Mission for Life
- Hackensack, New Jersey
- Topeka, Kansas
- Amanda Barnett
- Daniel David Lester
- Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome
- Meckel-Gruber Syndrome
- Late Term Abortion
Quotes[]
(After Cutter, who is pro-life, chides Rubirosa for aiding the defense)
- Connie Rubirosa: I can't just leave my soul on the coat rack every morning!
- Michael Cutter: We are united by a common belief - that each life is special and unique. And it is that belief which causes us to reject the violence and the chaos represented by Wayne Grogan's actions.
Background information and notes[]
- Another episode in the Law & Order franchise that deals with the murder of an abortion doctor is the Law & Order: Criminal Intent episode "The Third Horseman".
| Previous episode: "Reality Bites" |
"Dignity" Law & Order Season 20 |
Next episode: "Human Flesh Search Engine" |