This episode appears to be based on the 1988 Joe Sanchez Case. Sanchez was an honest NYPD officer who discovered corruption and was framed in 1983 by corrupt cops. He was charged in relation to a 1982 drug bust. Sanchez however was later proven innocent. This incident is also regarded as "The Blue Code of Silence".
This episode begins in the courtroom and not with the police investigation.
This is one of only a handful episodes in which the DA (Adam Schiff) shares a scene with a police officer (Captain Donald Cragen).
This is the first appearance for John Ramsey on Law and Order. He plays Judge Downing in this episode, but would play Judge Walter Screiber eleven times during the series' run.
John Doman played five different characters over the course of the series:
- Episode 1.22 The Blue Wall (1991) - Bailiff.
- Episode 7.20 We Like Mike (1997) - Sgt. Frank Gottlieb.
- Episode 9.9 True North (1998) - Mr. Stephens.
- Episode 13.18 Maritime (2003) - Howard Ridgeway.
- Episode 18.6 Political Animal (2008) - Jim Gilles.