First Monday

A newcomer to the Supreme Court finds himself a pivotal force on an often deadlocked bench, frequently at odds over hot-button cases in this earnest but brief legal drama.

Drama

Seasons

1. Pilot

Air Date: 2002-01-15

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.

2. Age of Consent

Air Date: 2002-01-18

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.

3. The Price of Liberty

Air Date: 2002-01-25

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

4. Crime and Punishment

Air Date: 2002-02-01

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.

5. Family Affairs

Air Date: 2002-02-08

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.

6. Dangerous Words

Air Date: 2002-03-01

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.

7. Right to Die

Air Date: 2002-03-08

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.

8. Court Date

Air Date: 2002-03-29

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

9. Secrets and Lies

Air Date: 2002-04-05

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.

10. Unprotected Speech

Air Date: 2002-04-12

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.

11. Strip Search

Air Date: 2002-04-19

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.

12. Showdown

Air Date: 2002-04-22

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.

13. Family Secrets

Air Date: 2002-05-03

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.

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