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Another Law & Order spin-off from producer Dick Wolf, NBC's weekly, hour-long Conviction starred Stephanie March, recreating her familiar Law & Order: SVU role as Assistant DA Alexandra Cabot. Formerly imbedded in the Federal Witness Protection Program, Alexandra was once more able to move about and practice her trade, this time as bureau chief for a group of young, ambitious ADAs. Her new colleagues included deputy DA and law-office manager Jim Steele (Anson Mount); born-into-privilege lawyer Nick Potter (Jordan Bridges), who idealistically left a lucrative private practice to work with Cabot for a paltry 51,000 dollars per year; arrogant grandstander Billy Desmond (J. August Richards), who went to great lengths to secure for himself only those cases that he was sure to win; Jessica Rossi (Milena Govich), Nick Potter's unofficial assistant and a woman with a murky, working-class past; Brian Peluso (Eric Balfour), whose legal brilliance was mitigated by his slovenliness and his messy private life; and Christina Finn (Julianne Nicholson), who'd been working in the office for two years before finally landing her first case and was understandably anxious to make up for lost time. Eschewing the "procedural" format of the other series in the Law & Order franchise, Conviction was built more along the lines of the medical drama Grey's Anatomy, focusing more on the various lawyers' personal problems and hang-ups than on their professional activities. Also breaking away from the Law & Order formula was the series' predilection for having the attorneys inaugurate legal investigations before it was entirely certain that a crime had actually been committed. Conviction first aired on March 3, 2006. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Clearly inspired by the FCC crackdown after Janet Jackson's controversial "wardrobe malfunction", this episode focuses on two publicity-hungry public figures: Carolyn Spencer (Dana Delany), the head of an anti-smut campaign targeted at "dirty" TV shows, and BJ Cameron (Lewis Black), a trash-talking shock jock. The SVU detectives are determined to find out who was responsible for the rape of teenage celebrity Jesse Dawning, who as the star of the controversial TV show "Girl Undercover" has been subjected to venomous attacks by both Spencer and Cameron. Ultimately, Spencer's own son Danny (Ricky Ullman) is arrested for the crime--but did he assault Jesse on orders from his zealous mother, or was he inspired by Cameron's rabid rantings? ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

This episode was advertised as the 300th installment of Law & Order, although technically it was number 301. (NBC did not count the series' 1990 pilot, which had originally been produced for CBS.) Again drawing its inspiration from recent headlines, the episode opens with an apparent fire in a high-rise apartment, culminating horribly when the baby son of popular comedian Monty Bender (Adam Ferrara) falls from the apartment window to his death. What appears to be a tragic accident leads to the reopening of an old pedophilia charge against Bender, and a startling revelation involving the parents of a young boy who'd been paid off to drop their case against the beleaguered comic. Real-life comedian Larry Miller, who'd played a murderer on two earlier episodes, is here cast as himself. This was the final episode of Law & Order's 13th season. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

At first glance, it is assumed that a murdered woman was a professional escort. But a clue found in the corpse's pocket leads the detectives to a "swingers party," where the victim had been in a fight with another woman. It is then revealed that the dead woman was a doctor who had been writing fraudulent prescriptions for the illegal painkiller Oxycodone. The outcome of the case is determined by an apparent betrayal within the ranks of a mob family. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

The young man who was stabbed to death outside a pizza parlor is revealed to be N.Y.U. student Andrew Hatcher. Among the clues is the fact that Hatcher's parents were called up on his cell phone -- after his death. The principal suspect would seem to be drug dealer Jimmy Gaines (Gregory Russell Cook), who claims that he found the victim's cell phone in a garbage can. Investigating this alibi, the detectives come across evidence of an attempt to cover up a case of meat contamination. Without revealing more, it can be said that this episode truly lives up to its title. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

As it entered its 13th season on the air, Law & Order also entered the history books as the longest-running TV program of its genre. This, however, did not satisfy series producer Dick Wolf, who had every intention of keeping the series in production for at least another eight years, long enough to smash Gunsmoke's status as the longest-running dramatic series of all time. Wolf also refused to rest on his laurels by concentrating on his "baby" alone: In addition to the original Law & Order, he was also churning out spin-offs Law & Order: Criminal Intent and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, as well as the documentary/reality series Crime & Punishment, with an updated revival of the classic Dragnet still in the wings. The basic Law & Order cast from season 12 was still in place, with one very significant change. After two years of service, interim District Attorney Nora Lewin (Dianne Weist), who'd replaced the venerable Adam Schiff (Steven Hill) in 2000, was herself replaced by DA Arthur Branch, played by Fred Dalton Thompson, an erstwhile actor better known to the public as a former Republican senator from Tennessee. The avuncular, home-fried conservatism of Branch -- who, unlike his strictly-business predecessors, was inclined toward long-winded anecdotes and rustic homilies whenever making an important point of law -- was frequently at odds with the intense liberalism of ADA Jack McCoy (Sam Waterston) and the studied seriousness of McCoy's assistant Serena Southerlyn. So much for the "Order" portion of the program. Back on the "Law" end of the spectrum, producer Wolf had promised viewers that there would be more friction between detectives Lennie Briscoe (Jerry Orbach) and Eddie Green (Jesse L. Martin); as it turned out, however, Briscoe and Green developed into something of a comedy team, with Green playing off of the witty comments and abysmal puns invariably dropped by Briscoe at each murder scene. Similarly, the detectives' sober-sided superior, Anita Van Buren (S. Epatha Merkerson), became a bit more wry and light-hearted than she'd been in previous seasons. As always, Law & Order kept abreast of the times with stories based on actual events and persons. The aftermath of 9/11, the saga of "American Jihad" John Walker Lindh, the shoplifting trial of actress Winona Ryder, the Lacy Peterson murder case, the Martha Stewart inside-trading imbroglio, pop star Michael Jackson's display of parental recklessness from a balcony, the criminal charges against the NBA's Jayson Williams, and the "D.C. Snipers" case were all grist for the writers' mill. The 13th-season finale of Law & Order was lavishly publicized as the series' 300th episode. Technically, however, it was the 301st, but NBC seldom acknowledged the series' pilot episode because it had been financed by CBS. Ironically, that selfsame pilot show was rebroadcast by NBC May 21, 2003, the same night as the "300th" installment. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

A criminal well known to detectives Briscoe (Jerry Orbach) and Green (Jesse L. Martin) may have been responsible for the murder of a businessman. Unfortunately, the investigation is impeded by the FBI, who insist upon shielding the prime suspect. Without giving away the outcome, it can be noted that one of the guest actors plays a dual role. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

A paroled hitman turns up murdered. The detectives have every reason to believe that the victim had been hired by wealthy widow Lorraine Cobin (Cathy Gentile-Moriarty) to kill an unwanted relative. Once the case goes to trial, the D.A.'s office is presented with seemingly irrefutable proof that they've been barking up the wrong tree. The viewer is advised to pay close attention to this episode until the very last scene. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Four people are cold-bloodedly killed in a jewelry store. The suspect, a most charming and persuasive young man, insists upon representing himself in course. Thanks to his emotional display of regret and contrition, the accused murderer may well be able to sway the jury -- or at least one of the jurors, a woman who cannot take her eyes off the man. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Best-selling mystery writer P.K. Todd (Ruthie Henshall) is shot in her apartment. Not long afterward, Todd's accountant dies. Could all this have been the result of a love triangle? And how do those two FBI agents figure into the story? To quote the original ad copy for this episode, "You WON'T BELIEVE how this one ends." Tom Berenger makes a guest appearance as Dean Tyler. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Detectives Briscoe (Jerry Orbach) and Green (Jesse L. Martin) investigate when a prostitute is found strangled to death. The trail of clues leads to a brothel where illegal immigrants are being exploited as sex slaves. Eventually, the law comes knocking at the door of a "happy" family -- and things are never quite the same again. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

A 16-year-old has been found dead from a bizarre wound, and the detectives are hot on the trail of the possible perpetrator. Chief among the suspects is John Telford (Jacob Pitts), a school bully with an inordinate fascination for martial arts. Ultimately, the investigation zeroes in on John's father Robert Telford (Robert Clohessy), who purchased the exotic weapon of death. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In this first episode of a two-part story, a shootout between the police and a motorist leads to the uncovering of a mob hit -- in which both victim and assassin were killed. The crime was the handiwork of the Russian mafia and the only witness is traumatized ten-year-old Billy Woodson (Cameron Bowen). The DA's efforts to bring the perpetrators to justice are thwarted -- and so, tragically, are the efforts to shield Billy's immediate family from harm. Both parts one and two of "Refuge" were broadcast May 25, 1999, as the finale of Law & Order's ninth season. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi