This episode paralleled real events that occurred in New York City in 1995 and 1996.
First, Chapter 1 of the Laws of 1995 established a new death penalty in New York State.
Second, District Attorney Robert Johnson of The Bronx had a "blanket" policy of declining to seek the death penalty in cases authorized (Murder 1, see NY Penal Law §60.06, and §125.27).
Dissatisfied, Governor George Pataki ordered Johnson replaced with the Attorney General when Johnson declined to seek the death penalty in the shooting death of Police Officer Kevin Gillespie by one Angel Diaz (who ultimately committed suicide and whose accomplices were ultimately convicted of Federal RICO charges and not brought to answer in State Court.) Litigation ensued, and the New York Court of Appeals upheld Governor Pataki's actions in Johnson v. Pataki (91 N.Y.2d 214, 1997).
Despite appearing in the 1988 Law & Order pilot Everybody's Favorite Bagman (1990) as District Attorney Alfred Wentworth, Roy Thinnes wasn't available when the series was picked up in 1990 and the role of D.A. Adam Schiff went to Steven Hill.
In this episode Thinnes and Hill appear together (although on opposite sides of an issue) when Thinnes plays the role of Special Prosecutor Victor Panatti.
In this episode Thinnes and Hill appear together (although on opposite sides of an issue) when Thinnes plays the role of Special Prosecutor Victor Panatti.
Jack Gilpin plays Attorney Axtell in this episode & three others. Previously, he played the role of Dr. Simon Reed in episode 5.12, Progeny (1995).
Peter Jay Fernandez has portrayed three different characters over the course of the series:
- Episode 4.10 The Pursuit of Happiness (1993) - Dr. Isaac Kerwin
- Episode 7.23 Terminal (1997) - Mr. Tyrell
- Episode 11.24 Deep Vote (2001) - Matthew Coulter