Law & Order (season 5)

A woman's death exposes an unorthodox method of treating cancer that new Executive Assistant DA McCoy intends to prove is negligent homicide.

• First appearance of Sam Waterston as EADA Jack McCoy.

A comedy-club owner comes under suspicion for having shot his wife, now comatose with a bullet in her head, after it is discovered he was abusive and she was about to divorce him.

• Guest star: Larry Miller.

The killing of a Japanese nightclub owner who was visiting New York City leads to the arrest of a singer who once worked for the deceased, and whose lawyer uses the "battered-woman syndrome" as a defense. While assisting on the case, Olivet remembers her own prior sexual assault.

• Guest stars: Laura Linney and Aida Turturro.

A missing victim, a suspicious ex-husband, and a family hiding something all contribute to the ADAs' decision to risk their licenses on a hunch. After ruling out suicide, McCoy and Kincaid turn their focus on the missing woman's daughter – and take a giant leap to prove their far-fetched theory.

• Guest stars: Sarah Paulson, Stephen Shellen, Anna Kathryn Holbrook, and Will Lyman.
• This episode was the basis for the Law & Order: UK episode "Fatherly Love"

Among the suspects in a lawyer's murder are a swindler who conned a woman out of her family fortune, and the woman's once-wealthy son.

• Guest star: Edie Falco.

The killing of a man who had served as a juror in a mob trial leads to a battle of wills between McCoy and his long-time friend, the suspect's attorney.

• Guest stars: Vincent Pastore and Jessica Walter.

After the murder of an abortion-clinic doctor, Briscoe and Logan are led to a suspect who belongs to a radical pro-life movement and their suspicion soon turns to the group's leader, who admits that he's glad the doctor died. McCoy faces the unpleasant task of charging the respected and charismatic former priest with murder, and the public debate over whether the secular community should interfere in spiritual matters.

• Guest star: Edward Herrmann.

A Wall Street broker accused of murdering his mentor uses the defense of "black rage" in court.

• Guest stars: Richard Libertini, Wendell Pierce, Keith Charles, Olivia Birkelund, Bernie McInerney, and Courtney B. Vance.

Briscoe and Logan set out to identify the apparent victim in a snuff film, but find her alive and the victim of a points-for-sex club at her prestigious high school.

• Guest stars: Monica Keena and Peter Facinelli
• This episode was the basis for the Law & Order: UK episode "Line Up"

The shooting of a board member of an exclusive private school leads to a blue-collar family and a classist system.

• Guest star: Harry Groener, Boyd Gaines, Bruce Kirkpatrick, Graham Sack, Leslie Denniston, John C. Vennema, Doris Belack.

A bomb at a construction site kills a 12-year-old boy, and the suspects include the bankrupt contractor and a jealous husband.

• Guest star: Robert John Burke, Melinda Mullins, Skipp Sudduth, Steve Harris, Ileen Getz, Randy Danson, .

The investigation into a double homicide leads to a young alcoholic whose family once lived in the victims' house and admitted to his AA group that he had nightmares about the killings.

• This episode was the basis for the Law & Order: UK episode "Intent"

Logan relives unhappy childhood memories when a friend is found dead; a presumed suicide, until the investigation reveals recent contact with a former priest who has a history of pedophilia.

• Guest appearance by Dann Florek reprising his role as Donald Cragen.
• This episode was the basis for the Law & Order: UK episode "Confession"

The investigation into a taxi driver's murder involves a loan shark, a missing plumber,a forged check, and the victim's wife.

• Guest star: Dominic Chianese.

A gay city councilman is murdered and the trail leads to a bigoted rival politician and a male prostitute.

• This episode was based on the Moscone–Milk assassinations^[20]
• Last appearance of Chris Noth as Det. Mike Logan.
• Guest stars: John Cameron Mitchell, Robert Joy and Daniel Hugh Kelly.