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    The West Wing

    The Supremes

    • Episode aired Mar 24, 2004
    • TV-14TV-14
    • 41min
    IMDb RATING
    9.2/10
    875
    YOUR RATING
    S5.E17
    • S5
    • E17
    All episodes
    All
    • Cast & crew
    • User reviews
    • Trivia
    • IMDbPro
    Milo O'Shea in The West Wing (1999)
    Drama

    A Supreme Court Justice dies, forcing the administration's hand on picking a desirable replacement who can be confirmed by a hostile Congress.A Supreme Court Justice dies, forcing the administration's hand on picking a desirable replacement who can be confirmed by a hostile Congress.A Supreme Court Justice dies, forcing the administration's hand on picking a desirable replacement who can be confirmed by a hostile Congress.

    IMDb RATING
    9.2/10
    875
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Jessica Yu
    • Writers
      • Aaron Sorkin
      • Debora Cahn
      • Josh Singer(staff writer)
    • Stars
      • Dulé Hill
      • Allison Janney
      • Joshua Malina
    Top credits
    • Director
      • Jessica Yu
    • Writers
      • Aaron Sorkin
      • Debora Cahn
      • Josh Singer(staff writer)
    • Stars
      • Dulé Hill
      • Allison Janney
      • Joshua Malina
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 6User reviews
    • 1Critic review
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See production, box office & company info
  • Photos11

    Martin Sheen in The West Wing (1999)
    William Fichtner in The West Wing (1999)
    Glenn Close in The West Wing (1999)
    Glenn Close and William Fichtner in The West Wing (1999)
    Richard Schiff and Bradley Whitford in The West Wing (1999)
    Glenn Close in The West Wing (1999)
    Glenn Close and Martin Sheen in The West Wing (1999)
    Glenn Close in The West Wing (1999)
    The West Wing (1999)
    The West Wing (1999)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Dulé Hill
    Dulé Hill
    • Charlie Youngas Charlie Young
    Allison Janney
    Allison Janney
    • C.J. Creggas C.J. Cregg
    Joshua Malina
    Joshua Malina
    • Will Baileyas Will Bailey
    Janel Moloney
    Janel Moloney
    • Donna Mossas Donna Moss
    Richard Schiff
    Richard Schiff
    • Toby Ziegleras Toby Ziegler
    John Spencer
    John Spencer
    • Leo McGarryas Leo McGarry
    Bradley Whitford
    Bradley Whitford
    • Josh Lymanas Josh Lyman
    Martin Sheen
    Martin Sheen
    • President Josiah Bartletas President Josiah Bartlet
    Glenn Close
    Glenn Close
    • Chief Justice Evelyn Baker Langas Chief Justice Evelyn Baker Lang
    Jesse Bradford
    Jesse Bradford
    • Ryan Pierceas Ryan Pierce
    William Fichtner
    William Fichtner
    • Justice Christopher Mulreadyas Justice Christopher Mulready
    Lily Tomlin
    Lily Tomlin
    • Deborah Fidereras Deborah Fiderer
    Mitchell Ryan
    Mitchell Ryan
    • Senator Roland Pierceas Senator Roland Pierce
    Milo O'Shea
    Milo O'Shea
    • Chief Justice Roy Ashlandas Chief Justice Roy Ashland
    Melissa Marsala
    Melissa Marsala
    • Rinaas Rina
    Kathleen York
    Kathleen York
    • Andrea Wyattas Andrea Wyatt
    Deirdre Lovejoy
    Deirdre Lovejoy
    • Lisa Wolfeas Lisa Wolfe
    Robert Picardo
    Robert Picardo
    • E. Bradford Sheltonas E. Bradford Shelton
    • Director
      • Jessica Yu
    • Writers
      • Aaron Sorkin
      • Debora Cahn
      • Josh Singer(staff writer)
    • All cast & crew
    See production, box office, & company info

    Storyline

    Edit
    Josh's efforts to break the deadlock over judicial nominees is brought to a head by the death of a Supreme Court Justice. With the Republicans controlling Congress, the administration's chances of getting a replacement they want appear to be slim. Despite this, Josh and Toby begin back-channel negotiations over a radical scheme which could be exactly what the overly-moderate judicial system needs. —Murray Chapman
    supreme court justice
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Genre
      • Drama
    • Certificate
      • TV-14
    • Parents guide
      • Add content advisory

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Final acting role of Milo O'Shea.
    • Goofs
      The characters state that there is no liberal on the court. In the first season Bartlett put Justice Mendoza on the bench, who was quite liberal. If for some reason Mendoza had left the bench, Bartlett would have appointed another liberal, so no matter what there would have been a democrat on the bench.
    • Quotes

      Justice Christopher Mulready: So why a racial preference and not an economic one?

      Charlie Young: Because affirmative action is about a legacy of racial oppression.

      Justice Christopher Mulready: It's about compromising admission standards.

      Charlie Young: That's bull. Excuse me. It's about leveling the playing field after 300 years...

      Justice Christopher Mulready: See, this is where the liberal argument goes off the tracks. You get stuck in the past. Now, you want to come back at me with "Grading is based on past performance, but admissions should be based on potential, on how a candidate may thrive with this sort of opportunity, and studies show that affirmative action admits have a higher predisposition to contribute to society"

      Charlie Young: Hang on, I've gotta write this down.

    • Connections
      Referenced in Jeopardy!: Episode #22.196 (2006)
    • Soundtracks
      Stay
      (uncredited)

      Written by Maurice Williams

      Performed by Jesse Bradford

    User reviews6

    Review
    Top review
    10/10
    One of the best
    10/10 doesn't do justice to this episode. It's an excellent example of what this show set out to achieve, of bipartisan politics and compromise, and of the feeling that there's still hope.
    helpful•6
    1
    • swati4891
    • May 19, 2019

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 24, 2004 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Filming locations
      • Stage 23, Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • John Wells Productions
      • Warner Bros. Television
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 41min
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.78 : 1

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