For Release: Jan. 12, 2007
It's known as the court of last resort--the Supreme Court--where nine judges appointed for life make monumental decisions that govern our everyday lives, from the contents of the nation's daily newspapers to what we can do in the privacy of our own homes. With immense power and considerable mystery, the court of final appeal has helped author the history of the U.S. The Supreme Court , the first television series to fully profile the inner workings of America's highest court, explores its history, impact and drama. The four-part series airs Wednesdays, beginning Jan. 31 at 9/8 p.m. CT on KET1 and Sundays, beginning Feb. 4 at 9/8 p.m. CT on KET2. Actor David Strathairn ( Good Night, and Good Luck ) narrates.
By fusing history with biography, The Supreme Court reveals the temperaments, passions, deeply held personal beliefs and life stories of Supreme Court judges. The series includes interviews with Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. and retired Justice Sandra Day O'Connor and explores the dramatic stories of the people whose cases have come before the court.
The first program, "One Nation Under Law , " examines the creation of the court and follows it through the brink of the Civil War, paying particular attention to the fourth chief justice of the Supreme Court, John Marshall, and his successor, Roger Taney.
"One Nation Under Law" is immediately followed by "A New Kind of Justice , " which explores the issues before the court during the period after the Civil War, a time of unprecedented economic growth, when industrialists like Carnegie and Rockefeller were earning millions.
Highlights from the final two episodes, "A Nation of Liberties" and "The Rehnquist Revolution , " include the court's reaction to state and federal legislation on Bill of Rights freedoms, President Richard Nixon's extraordinary opportunity to name four of the court's nine judges, 1973's Roe v. Wade and the surprising actions in Bush v. Gore .
The Supreme Court is produced by HiddenHill Productions for WNET/New York. More information about KET programming and education services, as well as how to support KET, can be found at www.ket.org.