Draft:Life Choice
 | Review waiting, please be patient.
This may take 5 weeks or more, since drafts are reviewed in no specific order. There are 2,585 pending submissions waiting for review.
Where to get help
How to improve a draft
You can also browse Wikipedia:Featured articles and Wikipedia:Good articles to find examples of Wikipedia's best writing on topics similar to your proposed article. Improving your odds of a speedy review To improve your odds of a faster review, tag your draft with relevant WikiProject tags using the button below. This will let reviewers know a new draft has been submitted in their area of interest. For instance, if you wrote about a female astronomer, you would want to add the Biography, Astronomy, and Women scientists tags. Editor resources
Reviewer tools
|
Submission declined on 5 September 2026 by A.Classical-Futurist (talk).
Where to get help
How to improve a draft
You can also browse Wikipedia:Featured articles and Wikipedia:Good articles to find examples of Wikipedia's best writing on topics similar to your proposed article. Improving your odds of a speedy review To improve your odds of a faster review, tag your draft with relevant WikiProject tags using the button below. This will let reviewers know a new draft has been submitted in their area of interest. For instance, if you wrote about a female astronomer, you would want to add the Biography, Astronomy, and Women scientists tags. Editor resources
This draft has been resubmitted and is currently awaiting re-review. |  |
"Life Choice" is the twelfth episode of the first season of Law and Order. It was directed by Aaron Lipstadt, from a story by Dick Wolf and a teleplay by David Black and Robert Stuart Nathan. It originally aired on NBC on January 8, 1991.[1]
The episode follows the investigation of a bombing at an abortion clinic that kills a young woman, leading detectives to investigate members of an anti-abortion organization. The case places Detectives Max Greevey and Mike Logan on opposing sides of the abortion debate.[2]
Plot
[edit]A bomb explodes at an abortion clinic, killing 22-year-old Mary Donovan. Sergeant Max Greevey and Detective Mike Logan investigate and discover that Donovan was carrying false identification and initially conclude that she brought the bomb into the clinic. They learn that Donovan was involved with Women for Life, an anti-abortion organization, and begin investigating others connected to the group.
The detectives trace materials used in the bomb to Celeste McClure, who purchased fertilizer used to make the explosive. Their investigation increasingly focuses on Rose Schwimmer, the leader of Women for Life, whom they suspect of directing the bombing. Celeste is arrested as the investigation continues.
After Celeste’s arrest, the detectives discover that Mary was pregnant and had secretly intended to have an abortion. This changes the direction of the investigation and strengthens their suspicions that Rose Schwimmer was responsible for Mary’s death. Schwimmer is arrested and charged with murder.
At trial, Schwimmer takes the stand and attempts to justify her actions through her opposition to abortion. Stone challenges her by asking whether, according to her own belief that abortion is murder, the bombing also made her responsible for the death of Donovan’s unborn child. Schwimmer is left unable to respond and is ultimately convicted.
- George Dzundza as Sergeant Max Greevey
- Chris Noth as Detective Mike Logan
- Dann Florek as Captain Donald “Don” Cragen
- Michael Moriarty as Executive ADA Ben Stone
- Richard Brooks as A.D.A. Paul Robinette
- Steven Hill as D.A. Adam Schiff
Recurring
[edit]- Sully Boyar as Arraignment Judge Harvey Sirkin
Guest stars
[edit]- Caroline Kava as Rose Schwimmer
- Paul Hecht as Defense Attorney Ballard
- Pat McNamara as Defense Attorney Molloy
- Clark Gregg as Patrick Dunne
- Jaime Tirelli as CSU Technician Rivera
- Bridgit Ryan as Celeste McClure
- Paul Butler as Judge Tyler B. Ashford
- Kevin Cooney as Geoffrey Donovan
- Laurie Kennedy as Barbara Donovan
- Kevin O'Rourke as Kevin Donovan
- Johann Carlo as Colman
- Jonathan Hogan as Corcoran
- LaTanya Richardson as Lorraine
- Jim Fyfe as Cleary
- Julie Halston as Jane
- Isa Thomas as Gwen Matson
- Rafael Ferrer as Clerk
- Steve Itkin as O'Hare
- Howard Spiegel as Bernstein
- Timothy Britten Parker as Cioran
- Larry Attile as Foreman
- Richard M. Davidson as Court Clerk
- Camryn Manheim as Leila
- Lynn Anderson as Woman #1
- Jane Sanders as Woman #2
- Lennie Loftin as Fogarty
- Frank Anderson as Man #1
Production
[edit]“Life Choice” was directed by Aaron Lipstadt from a story by series creator Dick Wolfe and a teleplay by David Black and Robert Stuart Nathan. Robert Palm and Daniel Sackheim served as producers,[3]while Mike Post composed the episode’s music.[1]
The episode generated controversy because of its abortion storyline. Dick Wolf later recalled that approximately $900,000 in advertising was withdrawn in response to the episode,[4]while NBC executive Brandon Tartikoff continued to support its broadcast.[5]
Reception and legacy
[edit]In 2009, TV Guide ranked “Life Choice” 62nd on its list of the 100 greatest television episodes of all time. The magazine described it as series creator Dick Wolf’s favorite episode and noted the controversy surrounding its abortion-clinic bombing storyline.[6]
The episode generated controversy because of its treatment of abortion. Series creator Dick Wolf later recalled that approximately $900,000 in advertising was withdrawn in response to the episode, while NBC executive Brandon Tartikoff continued to support the series.[7]
In a retrospective ranking of the first season of Law & Order, The Postrider ranked “Life Choice” as the season’s best episode, describing it as representative of the series’ approach to morally complex issues.[8]
References
[edit]- 1 2 3 "Law and Order: Life Choice". www.paleycenter.org. Retrieved 2026-09-02.
- ↑ "Life Choice - Law & Order (Season 1, Episode 12) - Apple TV". Apple TV. 1991-01-08. Retrieved 2026-09-02.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "Law and Order: Life Choice". www.paleycenter.org. Retrieved 2026-09-06.
- ↑ "The Original Law & Order Is Coming Back to NBC: Everything We Know". E! Online. 2021-09-28. Retrieved 2026-09-06.
- ↑ Wolf, Dick (1992-09-01). "Hot Topics Get Chilly Ad Reception". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2026-09-03.
- ↑ "The Original Law & Order Is Coming Back to NBC: Everything We Know". E! Online. 2021-09-28. Retrieved 2026-09-06.
- ↑ "The Original Law & Order Is Coming Back to NBC: Everything We Know". E! Online. 2021-09-28. Retrieved 2026-09-06.
- ↑ Ryan, Louis (2021-10-20). "Revisiting Law & Order: Season One". The Postrider. Retrieved 2026-09-06.
- provide significant coverage: discuss the subject in detail, not just brief mentions or routine announcements;
- are reliable: from reputable outlets with editorial oversight;
- are independent: not connected to the subject, such as interviews, press releases, the subject's own website, or sponsored content.
Please add references that meet all three of these criteria. If none exist, the subject is not yet suitable for Wikipedia.