Terminal

"Terminal"
←	L&O, Episode 7.23	→
Production number: K1112 First aired: 21 May 1997
	{{{nNthProducedInSeries}}}th of 456 produced in L&O
←	{{{nNthReleasedInSeries}}}th of 456 released in L&O	→
	{{{nNthReleasedInAll}}}th of 1271 released in all
Written By René Balcer & Ed Zuckerman Directed By Constantine Makris

Plot

In the prosecution of a fatal shooting, Schiff refuses the governor's order to seek the death penalty and is removed from the case--prompting him to sue the governor.

Cast

Main cast

• Jerry Orbach as Detective Lennie Briscoe
• Benjamin Bratt as Detective Rey Curtis
• S. Epatha Merkerson as Lieutenant Anita Van Buren
• Sam Waterston as Executive A.D.A. Jack McCoy
• Carey Lowell as A.D.A. Jamie Ross
• Steven Hill as D.A. Adam Schiff

Recurring cast

• Jack Gilpin as Defense Attorney Axtell
• Charlotte Colavin as Judge Lisa Pongracic
• Donald Corren as Medill
• Leslie Nipkow as CSU Technician Linda Jones

Guest cast

• Dani Klein as Susan Beckner
• Lianna Pai as Carolyne Trang
• Kent Williams as Hank Coburn
• Peter Jay Fernandez as Mr. Tyrell
• David Cromwell as Mr. Veitch
• Roy Thinnes as Deputy Attorney General Victor Panatti
• John Driver as State Attorney General Phillip Keenan
• Julia Gibson as Sara Wexman
• Richard Topol as Mickey Fine
• Ava Haddad as Sally Jacobs
• Lois Markle as Ms. Kaplan
• James Biberi as Reynolds
• Michael P. Moran as Judge Horace Barclay
• Jason Antoon as Nidal Salaam
• Allan Heinberg as Markson
• Stephen Adly Guirgis as Ibrahim
• Ramsey Faragallah as Mahmud
• David Deblinger as Miller
• Diane Cossa as Ms. Conroy
• Susie Essman as Ms. Shapiro
• Geoffrey Cantor as Mirvis
• Rob Nigro as Uniform Policeman
• Peter Von Berg as Doctor
• John Di Benedetto as McGill
• Jerry Ball as Jury Foreman

References

• Afghanistan
• Sheikh Abdel-Rahman
• Sofia, Bulgaria
• Los Angeles, California
• Angkor Wat, Cambodia
• Canada
• Chile
• Connecticut
• Egypt
• FBI
• Hamas
• Israel
• George Pataki
• Benjamin N. Cardozo
• Saranac Land & Timber Co. v. Comptroller
• Franklin D. Roosevelt (33rd President and former NY Governor)
• 1993 World Trade Center bombing
• Yemen
• People v. Dekle
• Mulroy v. Carey
• Klosterman v. Cuomo
• Gaynor v. Rockefeller

Quotes

Curtis: 'Kill Zionists'.

Briscoe: Good thing he wasn't a better shot

Briscoe: Good champagne, but it's dusty.

Curtis: This caviar has mold.

“	I would have worn my red silk but it's in the wash.	”
–Lennie Briscoe

“	The governor has no business coming into New York County and telling us how to prosecute criminals. That's the District Attorney's job. That's what I was elected to do. The governor has hijacked this case from the citizens of this county. He made a mistake. We're here to let him know it. Thank you.	”
–Adam Schiff to the press about suing the Governor

“	Your Honor, if I may...The Governor's using his office to put a man's life in the balance. He claims his power is absolute--beyond review. That's arrogant. Smacks of royal authority. I don't think the Constitution allows it and I know the justice system can't tolerate it.	”
–Adam Schiff in court

Background information and notes

• Adam Schiff's wife passes away from a stroke at the end of this episode.
• Actor Roy Thinnes appeared in the original pilot for Law & Order "Everybody's Favorite Bagman" as District Attorney Alfred Wentworth. He appears in a scene with the actor who replaced him, Steven Hill as Adam Schiff.
• This episode appears to be based on the Angel Diaz case. Governor George Pataki had removed District Attorney Robert Johnson from the case involving Diaz' alleged shooting of New York city police officer Kevin Gillespie and replaced him with State Attorney General Dennis Vacco as he believed Johnson was not seriously seeking the death penalty (Adam Schiff mentions Johnson in this episode). Diaz later hung himself in jail while awaiting trial.

Episode scene cards

1	2	3
One Police Plaza Intelligence Division Monday, March 11	Apartment Of Todd Wexman a.k.a Larry Rice 191 Second Avenue Friday, March 15	Apartment Of Hank Coburn 125 East 75th Street Tuesday, March 19

4	5	6
Apartment Of Carolyne Trang 157 West 55th Street Thursday, March 21	Flowers by Allisa 165 West 46th Street Wednesday, March 27	Small World Travel 183 Ninth Avenue Friday, March 29

7	8	9	10
Office Of Deputy Attorney General Victor Panatti Monday, April 8	Supreme Court Trial Part 30 Tuesday, April 23	Supreme Court Civil Term Pt. F Tuesday, April 23	Supreme Court Trial Part 30 Friday, April 26

Previous episode: "Past Imperfect"

"Terminal" Law & Order Season 7

Next episode: "Thrill"