"LAW & ORDER: TRIAL BY JURY" PREMIERES ON NBC, MARCH 3 AT 10 P.M. ET/PT

Jerry Orbach Makes Final Television Appearances in First Two Episodes. Bebe Neuwirth and Amy Carlson Headline Ensemble Cast

NEW YORK -- March 2, 2005 -- NBC introduces "Law & Order's" fourth installment to the brand, "Law & Order: Trial By Jury" on Thursday, March 3rd at 10 p.m. ET/PT before premiering in its regular time period (Fridays at 10 p.m. ET/PT), the following evening.

Legendary screen and stage actor Jerry Orbach ("Law & Order") will make his final appearances in the first two episodes, along with Emmy and Tony winner Bebe Neuwirth, Amy Carlson, (NBC's "Third Watch"), Kirk Acevedo, ("Band of Brothers") and Fred Thompson ("Law & Order") who headline this ensemble cast. Candice Bergen ("Murphy Brown") also guest stars as Judge Amanda Anderlee in the first two episodes. Cast and episodic photos are available at www.NBCUMV.com

The newest addition to the brand, "Law & Order: Trial By Jury" takes viewers through the legal process from arraignment to trial, told not only from the point-of-view of the prosecutors and police ? but also from the perspective of defendants, defense attorneys, judges and jurors. From this omniscient perspective, viewers will be privy to ex-parte communications, intimate conversations between defendants and their attorneys, and a behind-the-scenes look at witness preparation and jury selection.

"The thing that makes this show totally different from the other three shows is that it is the first one that has a differing point of view," said executive producer Dick Wolf. "Law & Order," "Special Victims Unit" and "Criminal Intent" are all told from the vantage of law enforcement or the prosecutors. This show has a 360-degree point of view where you're going to see both defendants and defense attorneys and judges and jurors."

Neuwirth, who portrays New York Assistant D.A. Tracey Kibre added, "what I've noticed about this show and which I find very interesting as an audience member, is to follow how the defense forms its case. You see a little bit more of how the whole case comes together from every single different perspective."

In the first episode, "Abominable Showman," A.D.A. Kibre (Neuwirth) tackles the case of a murdered aspiring Broadway actress. Kibre, joined by her unflappable deputy A.D.A. Kelly Gaffney (Carlson), work with Detectives Briscoe (Orbach) and Salazar (Acevedo) to pursue physical evidence, as they have no blood or body. The accused, an acclaimed but arrogant theater producer Kurt Lascher (guest starring actor-director-producer Tony Bill) feels confident that his attorney Maggie Dettweiler (Annabella Sciorra, "Jungle Fever") will prevail. Fellow "Law & Order" star Sam Waterston also guest-stars in his regular role.

Friday night's episode "41 Shots" follows the case of police officer Bruno Johnson (guest star Treach) who is executed by a career criminal. A.D.A.s Kibre (Neuwirth) and Gaffney (Carlson) face the facts that the accused was shot 41 times by the police, as well as charges of police corruption leveled by the charismatic and cunning defense attorney Mike LaSalle (guest star Peter Coyote). Orbach, Thompson and Acevedo also star.

Dick Wolf is creator and executive producer; Walon Green and Peter Jankowski are executive producers; Arthur Forney and Richard Pearce are co-executive producers. "Law & Order: Trial by Jury" is a production of Wolf Films in association with NBC Universal Television Studio.