The Supremes 

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

Director:

Jessica Yu

Writers:

Aaron Sorkin (created by), Debora Cahn

Stars:

Dulé Hill, Allison Janney, Joshua Malina

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
Dulé Hill	...	Charlie Young
Allison Janney	...	C.J. Cregg
Joshua Malina	...	Will Bailey
Janel Moloney	...	Donna Moss
Richard Schiff	...	Toby Ziegler
John Spencer	...	Leo McGarry
Bradley Whitford	...	Josh Lyman
Martin Sheen	...	Jed Bartlet
Glenn Close	...	Chief Justice Evelyn Baker Lang
Jesse Bradford	...	Ryan Pierce
William Fichtner	...	Justice Christopher Mulready
Lily Tomlin	...	Deborah Fiderer
Mitchell Ryan	...	Senator Roland Pierce
Milo O'Shea	...	Chief Justice Roy Ashland
Melissa Marsala	...	Rina

Storyline

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.

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Plot Keywords:

supreme court justice | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

TV-14

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

24 March 2004 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Stage 23, Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

John Wells Productions,Warner Bros. Television

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Senator Pierce describes his nephew as "lean and hungry," a reference to Shakespeare's Julius Caesar: "Let me have men about me that are fat, sleek-headed men and such as sleep a-nights. Yond Cassius has a lean and hungry look, he thinks too much; such men are dangerous."

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Goofs

Final scene in the W.H. press room when President Bartlett is at the podium introducing his two new Supreme Court nominations, he incorrectly introduces Glenn Close's character, Judge Evelyn Baker Lang, as the next Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. While she will be the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, the correct title should be "Chief Justice of the United States."

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Quotes

Chief Justice Evelyn Baker Lang: I am not... No I am not rewriting Article I. I am saying that a gun free school zone...
Justice Christopher Mulready: [Cutting her off] Is not a federal issue. In Lopez
Chief Justice Evelyn Baker Lang: [Cutting him off] Lopez overturned 50 years of precedent.
Justice Christopher Mulready: No, it stated that a plain text reading of the Commerce Clause does not allow Congress to
Chief Justice Evelyn Baker Lang: [Cutting him off again] A plain text reading of the Constitution values a negro at 3/5 of a man.
Justice Christopher Mulready: Hence the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments.
Chief Justice Evelyn Baker Lang: Oh, how generous. Thank you

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Connections

References Casablanca (1942)

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Soundtracks

West Wing Main Title
(uncredited)
Written by W.G. Snuffy Walden
Performed by Pete Anthony

User Reviews

Brilliant episode

This episode leaves me with a good feeling. I have to admit that I had misty eyes all through the last half hour. And its difficult to claim that "West Wing" usually does that to the viewers.

The reason for my joy for this episode is two-folded. First of all there is Glenn Close, perfectly casted as a liberal judge. Second there is the message, that the gloomy impression of a Left and Right in USA, unable to communicate, is not true.

The beauty lies in the compromise that does not look like the usual compromise. Instead of victory for the mediocre, we see a victory of the genius.

This episode is also the last high peak before the series finally loses its momentum.