Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (TV Series)

Choice (2003)

Mariette Hartley: Lorna Scarry

Quotes 

• Lorna Scarry : The court institutionalized Sierra K because she was a crack addict who'd given birth to five addicted babies and was pregnant with her sixth!

• Lorna Scarry : [during closing arguments]  The People's argument makes perfect sense. If the mother has a drinking problem, why not give her treatment so her behavior doesn't harm her unborn child? Everything in me, as a wife and a mother, agrees with the urge to protect the fetus. Then why does this Family Court order make me so afraid? Because if you follow the court's line of thinking to its inevitable conclusion, then every pregnant woman could be monitored by the State. Today it's alcohol. What's next? Driving? She could get into an accident. Prescription meds, all those side effects. Dieting, the baby might suffer. In fact, why not prohibit every activity which could harm the fetus? If you give the fetus rights to the extent the Family Court demands, then all you women here must be prepared to lose your own rights. And where will it end? With you as nothing more than childbearing receptacles with no right to privacy and no right to control your own bodies.

  Casey Novak : Jennifer Fulton is here because she ignored a court order not to drink. She has promised not to drink again, and to attend an outpatient facility, but she has broken these promises before. Now, how can she guarantee that she won't break them again? She can't. You've been asked to consider the mother's rights, but don't forget about the rights of the child, the child Jennifer wants to have. Doesn't that child have the right to be born healthy? Or must it suffer its entire life just to uphold the mother's right to do whatever she wants with her body? You know Jennifer can't help herself, so I'm asking you to help her by finding her guilty. Yes, she will be locked up, but she will also be given, at State expense, the treatment that she needs to ensure the safe delivery of her baby. Isn't that what everyone here wants?

• Casey Novak : If Jennifer pleads guilty, I'll ask for a suspended sentence, pending successful completion of her pregnancy in an alcohol treatment facility.

  Lorna Scarry : She's not going to court, but you're gonna lock her up anyway.

  Olivia Benson : It's a residential facility. It's not a prison.

  Lorna Scarry : You're depriving her of her liberty and sending a message to every troubled pregnant woman that she should avoid doctors, hospitals, health workers and above all, the police or she too might end up in jail.

  Casey Novak : That's a ludicrous exaggeration.

  Lorna Scarry : Not from where my client is sitting.

  Olivia Benson : Jennifer, we're trying to do what's best for you and your baby. You're gonna have to trust us.

  Jennifer Fulton : I did trust you, Olivia.