Law & Order: Trial by Jury is the fourth series in the Law & Order franchise created by Dick Wolf. The series ran for one season of 13 episodes. It was cancelled in 2006. This made it the first in the franchise’s history to be cancelled. Trial by Jury also exclusively deals with criminal trials from the perspective of both the prosecutors in the DA’s office and the defence attorneys.
In the criminal justice system, all defendants are innocent until proven guilty, either by confession, plea bargain, or trial by jury. This is one of those trials.
Main Cast of Law & Order: Trial by Jury
Trial by Jury focuses on criminal legal procedures and preparation that are rarely depicted in other Law & Order series.
The episodes usually start with a witness or victim’s personal account of a crime. This differs from other Law & Order series. The show progresses from that point, showing how both sides develop their strategies for winning the case. In addition, a few episodes show jury selections and deliberations. The show develops the judges into characters, showing scenes of them conferring with each other while also using the same judges in multiple episodes.
Bebe Neuwirth As ADA Tracey Kibre
Tracey Kibre is a senior Assistant District Attorney (ADA). She is also the Chief of the Homicide Bureau in the office of the New York County District Attorney (Manhattan DA). Tracey has a black-and-white view of the law. She is tough, tenacious, focused, and professional, and she maintains a strong working relationship with her staff. As chief of the Homicide Bureau, she is a senior prosecutor, subordinate only to the District Attorney and the Executive ADA.
Bebe Neuwirth is known for her roles on both stage and screen. Before appearing as Tracey Kibre in Law & Order: Trial by Jury, Neuwirth appeared on Broadway in A Chorus Line [1980]. She went on to win two Tony Awards, one for Sweet Charity [1986] and the other for Chicago [1996].
On TV, she is best known for her role as Dr Lilith Sternin in Cheers, and its spin-off Frasier. The role earned her two Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. On film, she is best known for portraying Nora Shepherd in the Jumanji franchise.
Amy Carlson as ADA Kelly Gaffney
Kelly Gaffney is an ADA and Kibre’s Deputy. She sees the law in shades of grey and, as a result, is often more by-the-book.
Amy Carlson started her career in television on the soap opera Another World. She was one of three actresses, alongside Mariska Hargitay and Angie Harmon, who tested together for the role of Olivia Benson on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. She had a main role on Third Watch and appeared as the same character in an episode of ER.
After Law & Order: Trial by Jury ended, Carlson would win the role of Linda Reagan in the CBS police procedural Blue Bloods, appearing on the show for seven years. Her most recent major TV role was in another Wolf Productions show, FBI: Most Wanted.
Jerry Orbach as DA Investigator Lennie Briscoe
Lennie Briscoe is a DA investigator. Briscoe was the longest-serving New York Police Department detective of the original Law & Order.
Jerry Orbach was an absolute icon of both stage and screen, originating the role of El Gallo in the original off-Broadway run of The Fantasticks (1960), where he was the first performer to sing that show’s standard “Try to Remember”.He won a Tony Award for his performance in the musical Promises, Promises. Orbach was Tony-nominated for portraying Sky Masterson in Guys and Dolls (1965) and Billy Flynn in the original Chicago (1976).
Orbach is best known for his role as Detective Lennie Briscoe on Law & Order, starring in the show for 12 years before moving over to Law & Order: Trial by Jury. He has played the role in both Special Victims Unit and Criminal Intent. Alongside this, he also appeared in Homicide: Life on the Street, which takes place within the same universe. This show also starred Richard Belzer as John Munch, who would later go on to star in Law & Order: SVU.
He also played private detective Harry McGraw in Murder, She Wrote. On film, he is best known for his role in Dirty Dancing and for voicing Lumière, the Candlestick, in the Walt Disney animated musical film Beauty and the Beast.
In January 1994, less than two years into his stint on Law & Order, Orbach was diagnosed with prostate cancer. By December 1994, the cancer had returned and metastasised. He went on hormone therapy, on which he remained over the next decade while he continued to star on Law & Order. He appeared in the first two episodes of Law & Order: Trial by Jury before succumbing to his cancer.
On 28th December 2004, around a decade after it had metastasised, Jerry Orbach passed away at the age of 69.
First Appeared on: Law & Order
Kirk Acevedo as DA Investigator Hector Salazar
Hector Salazar is a DA investigator. Salazar retired from the NYPD following an on-the-job injury, which would have forced him behind a desk.
Kirk Acevedo is best known for his roles outside of his work on Law & Order: Trial by Jury. Before his role of Hector Salazar, he played Miguel Alvarez in OZ and S/Sgt. Joe Toye in the critically acclaimed mini-series Band of Brothers.
After the cancellation of Trial by Jury, Acevedo went on to star in The Black Donnellys, Fringe, Prime Suspect, 12 Monkeys and Arrow.
Fred Dalton Thompson as DA Arthur Branch
DA Arthur Branch Branch is a tough Republican, who practices both legal and political conservatism. Thompson was simultaneously a series regular in the same role on this show and on the original Law & Order.
Fred Dalton Thompson was not just an actor but also an American politician, attorney, lobbyist, columnist, and radio personality. As an actor, he has starred in the films The Hunt for Red October, Cape Fear, and Baby’s Day Out.
Thompson was a member of the Republican Party, and served as a United States senator from Tennessee from 1994 to 2003. Towards the end of his term, he would join the cast of Law & Order as Manhattan District Attorney Arthur Branch. During his tenure on the show, he simultaneously appeared in four variations of the Law & Order franchise.
Fred Dalton Thompson passed away from Lymphoma on 1st November 2015 at the age of 73.
First Appeared on: Law & Order
Scott Cohen as Detective Chris Ravell
Chris Ravell, an NYPD detective assigned to ADA Kibre’s team, succeeds Lennie Briscoe as Salazar’s investigative partner.
Scott Cohen is best known for his role in Gilmore Girls as Max Medina. Before he made his way to Law & Order: Trial by Jury, Cohen starred in The 10th Kingdom and NYPD Blue.
After the show’s cancellation, Cohen hasn’t been out of work. He starred in the shows Necessary Roughness, The Fix, and The Carrie Diaries, along with appearing in a whole host of other TV shows and movies.
His most recent television role was as Luca Falcone on the HBO crime drama miniseries The Penguin. His most recent film project is currently in post-production.
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