The verdict is in: Chicago Justice is a go. NBC has picked up the fourth procedural in its One Chicago franchise after its introduction in the May 11 episode of Chicago P.D.
The legal spinoff will focus on the state’s attorney’s office in Chicago.
“The state’s attorney’s dedicated team of prosecutors and investigators navigates heated city politics and controversy head-on while fearlessly pursuing justice,” NBC said in its release. “As they take on the city’s high stakes and often media-frenzied cases, they must balance public opinion, power struggles within the system and their unwavering passion for the law.”
Philip Winchester headlines the new series, playing Asst. State’s Attorney Peter Stone. His boss is State’s Attorney Mark Jefferies, portrayed by Carl Weathers. Nazneen Contractor stars as ASA Dawn Patel. Joelle Carter and Ryan-James Hatanaka play state’s investigators Lori Nagle and Daren Okada, respectively.
The Dick Wolf series is the third new drama ordered by the network after straight-to-series “Taken” and “Emerald City.” NBC already has picked up comedy series “Trial & Error” and “Powerless.”
Wolf, Peter Jankowski, Matt Olmstead, Derek Haas, Michael Brandt and Arthur Forney executive produce “Chicago Justice.” “Chicago Justice” is produced by Universal Television and Wolf Entertainment.
The May 11 “Chicago P.D.” episode titled “Justice” won its time period with a 1.4 rating in 18-49 demo and 6.8 million viewers (live+same day), according to Nielsen numbers reported at TV by the Numbers.
“Chicago Fire” launched the One Chicago franchise in 2012. “Chicago P.D.” followed in 2014 and “Chicago Med” premiered last fall.
Although “Chicago Justice” is a welcome addition to Chicago, I hope Wolf and Co. work to make the courtroom scenes a bit more authentic than they were in the backdoor pilot. There was a lot of grandstanding—and the introduction of illegal evidence—that simply wouldn’t be tolerated in the real world.
