Nora Lewin
Encyclopedia
Nora Lewin was a fictional character
on the TV show Law & Order
, played by two-time Academy Award
winning actress Dianne Wiest
from 2000 to 2002. Her character was particularly notable for the fact that she was the first woman in the program's history to hold the position of New York County District Attorney
(no woman has held the position in real life). Pursuant to New York law, an interim District Attorney is appointed by the Governor.
Prior to her appointment as interim DA, Lewin was a law professor, which often provoked her critics to dismiss her as a detached academic with no practical experience. Lewin's term as DA was defined by a liberally
directed program of legal application to many notable criminal cases, which often brought her into political and legal dilemmas. In 2001, she was confronted with the decision to pursue the death penalty in a conviction of an 18-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.
Lewin worked closely with Jack McCoy
and Abbie Carmichael
. Her political beliefs often put her into conflict with both of them, especially the latter. When Carmichael left the DA's office in 2001, Lewin replaced her with Serena Southerlyn
, whose liberal idealism more closely mirrored her own.
In September 2002, after just two years of her term as District Attorney, Lewin departed the office. The manner in which she departed the show is never specified on screen. However, in his tie-in
book Law & Order: Crime Scenes, Dick Wolf
wrote that his intention for the character was that Lewin found herself disenchanted with the position of D.A., and opted not to run for election following her interim term. Fred Dalton Thompson
subsequently joined the cast as Republican
Arthur Branch
, who was her successor. Dianne Wiest later stated, in the book Actors at Work, written jointly by Rosemarie Tichler and Barry Jay Kaplan, that she was tired of the role and wished to move on to other projects.
In her first scene, Nora was introduced to McCoy by Mayor Rudy Giuliani
(playing himself in a cameo appearance
on the show), who praised Lewin's record and assured her that she would do a fine job as District Attorney.
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
on the TV show Law & Order
Law & Order
Law & Order is an American police procedural and legal drama television series, created by Dick Wolf and part of the Law & Order franchise. It aired on NBC, and in syndication on various cable networks. Law & Order premiered on September 13, 1990, and completed its 20th and final season on May 24,...
, played by two-time Academy Award
Academy Awards
An Academy Award, also known as an Oscar, is an accolade bestowed by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry, including directors, actors, and writers...
winning actress Dianne Wiest
Dianne Wiest
Dianne Wiest is an American actress. She has had a successful career on stage, television, and film, and has won two Academy Awards, two Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe Award. Wiest has also been nominated for a BAFTA Award.-Early life:...
from 2000 to 2002. Her character was particularly notable for the fact that she was the first woman in the program's history to hold the position of New York County District Attorney
New York County District Attorney
The New York County District Attorney is the elected district attorney for New York County , New York. The office is responsible for the prosecution of violations of New York state laws....
(no woman has held the position in real life). Pursuant to New York law, an interim District Attorney is appointed by the Governor.
Prior to her appointment as interim DA, Lewin was a law professor, which often provoked her critics to dismiss her as a detached academic with no practical experience. Lewin's term as DA was defined by a liberally
Liberalism
Liberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
directed program of legal application to many notable criminal cases, which often brought her into political and legal dilemmas. In 2001, she was confronted with the decision to pursue the death penalty in a conviction of an 18-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
Death row
Death row signifies the place, often a section of a prison, that houses individuals awaiting execution. The term is also used figuratively to describe the state of awaiting execution , even in places where no special facility or separate unit for condemned inmates exists.After individuals are found...
. 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.
Lewin worked closely with Jack McCoy
Jack McCoy
John James "Jack" McCoy is a fictional character in the television drama Law & Order, created by Michael S. Chernuchin and played by Sam Waterston since 1994. He is the second-longest tenured character on the show, after Lt. Anita Van Buren . On January 28, 2009, McCoy's character ended the longest...
and Abbie Carmichael
Abbie Carmichael
Abigail "Abbie" Carmichael is a fictional character on the TV drama Law & Order created by Rene Balcer and portrayed by model/actress Angie Harmon...
. Her political beliefs often put her into conflict with both of them, especially the latter. When Carmichael left the DA's office in 2001, Lewin replaced her with Serena Southerlyn
Serena Southerlyn
Serena Southerlyn is a fictional character on the long-running NBC drama series Law & Order.-Character overview:Southerlyn joined the District Attorney's office in 2001 as an ADA, replacing Abbie Carmichael...
, whose liberal idealism more closely mirrored her own.
In September 2002, after just two years of her term as District Attorney, Lewin departed the office. The manner in which she departed the show is never specified on screen. However, in his tie-in
Tie-in
A tie-in is an authorized product based on a media property a company is releasing, such as a movie or video/DVD, computer game, video game, television program/television series, board game, web site, role-playing game or literary property...
book Law & Order: Crime Scenes, Dick Wolf
Dick Wolf
Richard Anthony "Dick" Wolf is an American producer, specializing in crime dramas such as Miami Vice and the Law & Order franchise. Throughout his career he has won several awards including an Emmy Award and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.-Early life:Wolf was born in New York City, the son...
wrote that his intention for the character was that Lewin found herself disenchanted with the position of D.A., and opted not to run for election following her interim term. Fred Dalton Thompson
Fred Dalton Thompson
Fred Dalton Thompson , is an American politician, actor, attorney, lobbyist, columnist, and radio host. He served as a Republican U.S...
subsequently joined the cast as Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
Arthur Branch
Arthur Branch
Arthur Branch is a fictional attorney and a regular character on the TV crime dramas Law & Order and Law & Order: Trial by Jury. Branch has also appeared on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, and Conviction....
, who was her successor. Dianne Wiest later stated, in the book Actors at Work, written jointly by Rosemarie Tichler and Barry Jay Kaplan, that she was tired of the role and wished to move on to other projects.
In her first scene, Nora was introduced to McCoy by Mayor Rudy Giuliani
Rudy Giuliani
Rudolph William Louis "Rudy" Giuliani KBE is an American lawyer, businessman, and politician from New York. He served as Mayor of New York City from 1994 to 2001....
(playing himself in a cameo appearance
Cameo appearance
A cameo role or cameo appearance is a brief appearance of a known person in a work of the performing arts, such as plays, films, video games and television...
on the show), who praised Lewin's record and assured her that she would do a fine job as District Attorney.