Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (TV Series)

Choice (2003)

Diane Neal: ADA Casey Novak

Quotes 

• 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?

• Elliot Stabler : [to Casey about Craig Fulton]  You made a deal with that idiot?

  Casey Novak : I take him to trial, I'm not sure I'd win.

  Olivia Benson : What'll it take to convince you? Broken bones or maybe a dead body?

  Casey Novak : Jennifer Fulton didn't exactly help her case by fingering the wrong guy.

  Olivia Benson : So now rape victims have to be perfect before you'll bother to prosecute their rapists?

  Casey Novak : I prosecute cases I have a chance at winning.

  Elliot Stabler : Well, hang around 'cause you'll be prosecuting him for murder. The number one cause of death among pregnant women is homicide, usually by their partners.

  Casey Novak : Okay, Craig Fulton goes within 200 yards of Jennifer, he's in jail.

  Olivia Benson : Oh, great. That'll stop him. Let's go give her the good news.

• 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.

• Casey Novak : Jennifer, do you believe you can control your alcohol addiction?

  Jennifer Fulton : Yes, I do.

  Casey Novak : You weren't able to go without breaking the Family Court's ruling.

  Jennifer Fulton : I was under a lot of stress.

  Casey Novak : You're pregnant. That stress isn't going to go away. Can you guarantee that you won't have another lapse?

  Jennifer Fulton : Yes.

  Casey Novak : How? Alcoholism is a disease. It's not something that can be switched on and off.

  Jennifer Fulton : I know I can control it.

  Casey Novak : How can you, Jennifer?

  Jennifer Fulton : Because I love my baby. I'm not gonna hurt it.

  Casey Novak : You say that, but you still drank.

  Jennifer Fulton : I'm telling you, I love my child. I do.