Nora Lewin

Nora Lewin was a fictional television character on the TV show Law & Order, played by Dianne Wiest from 2000 to 2002. Her character was particularly notable for the fact that she was the first female in the program's history to hold the position of District Attorney of Lower Manhattan.

Related Topics:
Law & Order - Dianne Wiest - 2000 - 2002 - District Attorney - Lower Manhattan

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Lewin's term as DA was defined by a liberally directed program of legal application to many notable criminal cases. Her legal mind often caused her political and legal dilemmas. In 2001, she was confronted with the decision to pursue the death penalty in a conviction of a 19-year-old murderer. While she personally opposed the death penalty, she realized that her office would be seen as soft on crime, and succumbed to political pressure. The young man was found guilty and sent to death row. It was in this case that she revealed that while she was an idealist, she was not prepared to subvert the correct application of the law due to personal convictions.

Related Topics:
Liberal - 2001 - Death penalty - Death row

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Lewin worked closely with Executive Assistant District Attorney Jack McCoy and his ADA Abbie Carmichael. Her political beliefs often put her into conflict with both of them, especially the latter, a staunch conservative. When Carmichael left the DAs office in 2001, Lewin replaced her with Serena Southerlyn, whose liberal idealism more closely mirrored her own.

Related Topics:
Jack McCoy - Abbie Carmichael - Conservative - Serena Southerlyn

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In 2002, after just two years of her term as District Attorney, Lewin was presumably defeated in the election of that year, and, in September, departed the office. The manner in which she departed the show is never specified. It has been assumed, however, that she was defeated by Republican candidate and successor Arthur Branch (portrayed by Fred Dalton Thompson). His administration was a sharp contrast to that of Lewin, as Branch had little difficulty in accepting capital punishment in certain cases and condemned what he perceived to be any outlandish interpretations of the US Constitution, including the existence of a right to privacy.

Related Topics:
2002 - Republican - Fred Dalton Thompson - US Constitution - Right to privacy

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~