March 25, 2002

JUSTICE NOVELLI FIGHTS TO WIN A MAJORITY VOTE IN A CASE INVOLVING MEGAN'S LAW, ON "FIRST MONDAY," APRIL 5

Hollywood Legend Debbie Reynolds Guest Stars

Marc Klaas, Father of Real-Life Murder Victim Polly Klaas, and Attorney Gerald Rogen Make Cameo Appearances as Themselves

"Secrets & Lies" -- Justice Novelli makes it his mission to secure a majority vote from the justices to ensure that the local authorities as well as the community are alerted when a convicted sex offender moves into a neighborhood, on FIRST MONDAY, Friday, April 5 (9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. Alan J. Levi directed the episode from a script by Lyn Greene and Richard Levine, based on a story they wrote with the series' executive producer, Donald P. Bellisario.

Marc Klaas, father of real-life murder victim Polly Klaas, and Attorney Gerald Rogen, appearing as themselves, argue whether or not Megan's Law, which requires sex offenders to register with their local police, and in some states list their names and addresses on the Internet, violates constitutional rights. CNN Correspondent Charles Bierbauer, also appearing as himself, acts as moderator.

In the course of Novelli's attempts to sway his fellow Justices, he discovers that a registered offender is living in the same neighborhood as Justice Szwark. But when he informs her, she questions his motives for giving her the information.

Meanwhile, Justice Hoskins may have met his match when Chief Justice Brankin and his wife set him up on a blind date with a fascinating woman, Katherine Seldes (guest star Debbie Reynolds).

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CBS Television...2

Justice Joseph Novelli Joe Mantegna
Chief Justice
Thomas Brankin James Garner
Justice Henry Hoskins Charles Durning Justice Esther Weisenberg Camille Saviola Justice Jerome Morris James McEachin
Justice Michael Bancroft James Karen Justice Deborah Szwark Gail Strickland Justice Theodore Snow Stephen Markle
Justice Brian Chandler Lyman Ward
Ellie Pearson Hedy Burress

Miguel Mira     Randy Vasquez
Jerry Klein     Christopher Wiehl

Julian Lodge Joe Flanigan
Sarah Novelli Linda Purl
Arlene Brankin Diane Baker
Emmy Phillips Zoe McLellan
Janet Crowley Liz Torres
Jason Coyle David Campbell
Peggy Pearson Rosalee Mayeaux
Mike Pearson Greg Watkins
Ellie Sara Niemietz

Katherine Seldes        Debbie Reynolds
Marc Klaas      Marc Klaas

Gerald Rogen Gerald Rogen
Photographer Tait Ruppert
Mr. Marshall Allen Williams
Waiter Derrick McMillon
Bill Delancey Maurice Godin

CIA Guard       Kevin Dunigan
Mr. Sydell      John Walcutt

RATING: TVPG-L

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CBS Television...3

JUSTICE NOVELLI MUST DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT TO GRANT A STAY OF EXECUTION TO A JUVENILE, ON A REBROADCAST OF "FIRST MONDAY," APRIL 12

"Pilot" -- Novelli begins his service as a United States Supreme Court Justice and must decide whether or not to grant a stay of execution to a juvenile death row inmate convicted of killing a young girl, on a rebroadcast of the premiere episode of FIRST MONDAY, Friday, April 12 (9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. The episode was directed by the series' executive producer and co-creator Donald P. Bellisario, who wrote the script with co-creator Paul Levine. (Originally broadcast 1/15/02)

Brankin and Hoskins lobby Novelli to deny the stay, as does his conservative clerk, Miguel. At the same time, however, Novelli's two other clerks, Ellie and Jerry, desperately search for existing case law as well as new evidence that will allow Novelli to issue the stay in time.

Charles Bierbauer, Barry Scheck and Dennis Praeger appear as themselves.

Justice Joseph Novelli Joe Mantegna
Chief Justice Thomas Brankin James Garner Justice Henry Hoskins Charles Durning Justice Esther Weisenberg Camille Saviola Justice Jerome Morris James McEachin
Justice Michael Bancroft James Karen Justice Deborah Szwark Gail Strickland Justice Theodore Snow Stephen Markle
Justice Brian Chandler Lyman Ward
Ellie Pearson Hedy Burress

Miguel Mora     Randy Vasquez
Jerry Klein     Christopher Wiehl

Julian Lodge Joe Flanigan
Sarah Novelli Linda Purl
Andrew Novelli Brandon Davies
Beth Novelli Rachel Grate
Henry Johnson Bennett Guillory
Court Crier Mark Costello
Janet Crowley Liz Torres

Officer Tom Bishop      Scott Lawrence
Moses Brown     Jake Head

Officer Davis Chuck Walcazk
Jesse Jonston Stefan Umstead
Officer Barnes Russell Friedenberg
Louise Jones Brooke Marie Bridges
Dwayne Young Dayo Ade
Charles Bierbauer Charles Bierbauer Barry Scheck Barry Scheck
Dennis Praeger Dennis Praeger

RATING: TVPG-L

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Press Contacts: Diane Ekeblad           323/575-2029            
diane.ekeblad@tvc.cbs.com                               Kristin Withers         212/975-3148            kwithers@cbs.com