American Justice
| American Justice | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Created by | Towers Productions |
| Presented by | Bill Kurtis (1992–2005) Dennis Haysbert (2021–present) |
| Country of origin | United States |
| No. of episodes | 255 (original series) 23 (current series) |
| Production | |
| Executive producers | Sharon Scott Laura Fleury Tiff Winton[1] |
| Running time | 43 minutes |
| Production company | Category 6 Media[1] |
| Original release | |
| Network | A&E Network |
| Release | September 15, 1992 – September 30, 2022 |
American Justice is an American criminal justice television program airing on the A&E Network. From 1992–2005, the show was hosted by television reporter Bill Kurtis. The show features interesting or notable cases, such as the murder of Selena, Scarsdale Diet doctor murder, the Hillside Stranglers, Matthew Shepard, and the Wells Fargo heist, with the stories told by key players, such as police, lawyers, victims, and the perpetrators themselves. More than 250 episodes were produced in the original series, making it the longest-running documentary justice show on cable.
The original series' final new episode aired on December 10, 2005. A new version debuted on August 20, 2021, with actor Dennis Haysbert replacing Kurtis as narrator.[2]
Episodes[edit]
| Season | Episodes | Originally aired | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First aired | Last aired | |||
| 1 | 6 | October 7, 1992 | December 16, 1992 | |
| 2 | 25 | February 13, 1993 | December 29, 1993 | |
| 3 | 23 | January 4, 1995 | December 23, 1995 | |
Season 1 (1992)[edit]
| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Original air date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | "Jonestown Massacre" | October 7, 1992 | |
| 2 | 2 | "Boston Strangler" | November 4, 1992 | |
| 3 | 3 | "Murph the Surf" | November 11, 1992 | |
| 4 | 4 | "The Hillside Stranglers" | November 18, 1992 | |
|
An examination of the infamous case of serial killers Angelo Buono and Kenneth Bianchi, who murdered 10 young women and girls in Los Angeles in 1977 and 1978. | ||||
| 5 | 5 | "Ted Bundy" | December 2, 1992 | |
| 6 | 6 | "John Wayne Gacy: Buried Secrets" | December 16, 1992 | |
|
The bizarre case of the successful businessman and volunteer parade clown who raped and murdered 33 young men and boys after luring them to his home in suburban Chicago | ||||
Season 2 (1993)[edit]
| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Original air date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 1 | "Dr. Jeffrey MacDonald: The Green Beret Killer" | February 13, 1993 | |
| 8 | 2 | "The Trial of Adolf Eichmann" | February 13, 1993 | |
| 9 | 3 | "City Killer Gangs" | April 28, 1993 | |
| 10 | 4 | "Jean Harris" | April 28, 1993 | |
|
Covers the case of school headmistress Jean Harris, who was accused of murdering her lover, "Scarsdale Diet" author Dr. Herman Tarnower. | ||||
| 11 | 5 | "Howard Hughes Biography Hoax" | April 28, 1993 | |
| 12 | 6 | "Charles Starkweather" | June 23, 1993 | |
| 13 | 7 | "Richard Speck" | June 30, 1993 | |
| 14 | 8 | "Wayne Williams" | July 28, 1993 | |
| 15 | 9 | "Mafia Wars" | August 11, 1993 | |
| 16 | 10 | "Bonnie and Clyde" | August 11, 1993 | |
| 17 | 11 | "Mafia (The Prohibition Years)" | September 8, 1993 | |
| 18 | 12 | "Mafia (Birth of the American Mafia)" | September 15, 1993 | |
| 19 | 13 | "Mafia (The Kennedys and the Mob)" | September 22, 1993 | |
| 20 | 14 | "Target: Mafia (Gangbusters)" | September 29, 1993 | |
| 22 | 15 | "Target: Mafia (Empire of Crime)" | October 6, 1993 | |
| 23 | 16 | "Mobfathers: Part 1" | October 13, 1993 | |
| 24 | 17 | "Mobfathers: Part 2" | October 20, 1993 | |
| 25 | 18 | "Mobfathers: Part 3" | October 27, 1993 | |
| 26 | 19 | "Rape on Trial" | November 3, 1993 | |
| 27 | 20 | "Dahmer: Mystery of a Serial Killer" | November 10, 1993 | |
| 28 | 21 | "The Rosenbergs" | November 17, 1993 | |
| 29 | 22 | "Fire Starters" | November 24, 1993 | |
| 30 | 23 | "Alcatraz: Escaping America's Toughest Prison" | December 1, 1993 | |
| 31 | 24 | "KKK: Hate Crimes in America" | December 1, 1993 | |
| 32 | 25 | "Vigilante Justice" | December 29, 1993 | |
Season 3 (1994)[edit]
| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Original air date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 33 | 1 | "Mass Murder: An American Tragedy" | January 5, 1994 | |
| 34 | 2 | "Hostage Takers" | January 12, 1994 | |
| 35 | 3 | "The Wrong Man" | January 19, 1994 | |
| 36 | 4 | "Great Brinks Heist" | January 19, 1994 | |
| 37 | 5 | "Fugitives" | February 2, 1994 | |
| 38 | 6 | "Death Penalty" | February 9, 1994 | |
| 39 | 7 | "Juvenile Justice" | February 23, 1994 | |
| 40 | 8 | "Mob Rats" | March 2, 1994 | |
|
Looks at Joseph Valachi, the first Mafioso to break the code of silence, and Sammy Gravano, who helped convict the Gambino family boss. | ||||
| 41 | 9 | "War Crimes" | March 30, 1994 | |
| 42 | 10 | "Satan: Rituals and Abuse" | April 6, 1994 | |
| 43 | 11 | "Lorena Bobbitt: Women and Violence" | April 13, 1994 | |
|
Examines the highly charged issue of battered women. Do they have the right to respond with violence, and under what circumstances? Will the acquittal of Lorena Bobbitt lead to an "open season" on men? And why are women increasingly involved in drug and gang activity? | ||||
| 44 | 12 | "Prison Justice" | April 20, 1994 | |
| 45 | 13 | "Pleading Insane" | May 4, 1994 | |
| 46 | 14 | "Cops on Trial" | May 4, 1994 | |
|
Examines how police are treated as defendants and the types of sentences they face; and reveals research results that show that police and the general public are held to different standards of justice. | ||||
| 47 | 15 | "Fighting Words: The First Amendment" | June 1, 1994 | |
| 48 | 16 | "Jim Bakker: Crime in the Name of God" | June 15, 1994 | |
| 49 | 17 | "Reginald Denny: Jury Under Siege" | July 13, 1994 | |
| 50 | 18 | "Attack at Waco" | August 3, 1994 | |
|
The story of the tragic assault on the Branch Davidian compound in Texas and the subsequent efforts to determine the facts and assign blame. | ||||
| 51 | 19 | "Sex, Lies and Harassment" | August 17, 1994 | |
| 52 | 20 | "Gangbusters" | September 7, 1994 | |
| 53 | 21 | "The Attica Riot: Chaos Behind Bars" | September 14, 1994 | |
| 54 | 22 | "Private Eyes" | September 21, 1994 | |
| 55 | 23 | "Prostitution, Sex and the Law" | October 19, 1994 | |
|
From the street-corner hooker to the high-class Hollywood call girl, this episode examines how the sellers of sex are brought to justice. | ||||
| 56 | 24 | "The Sting" | November 23, 1994 | |
| 57 | 25 | "Riot: the Chicago Conspiracy Trial" | November 30, 1994 | |
|
Examination of the turbulent events behind the 1968 anti-war riots in Chicago which led to the "Conspiracy to Commit Riot" trials of the famed Chicago Seven. | ||||
| 58 | 26 | "Divorce Wars" | December 14, 1994 | |
|
Examines how divorce has changed from the days when women were considered the legal "property" of their husbands to today's high-stakes divorce contests, typified by the battle between Donald and Ivana Trump. | ||||
Season 4 (1995)[edit]
| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Original air date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 59 | 1 | "The Quiz Show Scandal and Other Frauds" | January 4, 1995 | |
|
Examines the game-show scam involving distinguished professor Charles Van Doren. | ||||
| 60 | 2 | "Godfathers vs. The Law" | January 11, 1995 | |
|
Profiles of top gangsters and the lawmen who have risked their lives to defeat the underworld. | ||||
| 61 | 3 | "Celebrities on Trial" | February 8, 1995 | |
| 62 | 4 | "Spies: Betraying a Nation" | February 25, 1995 | |
| 63 | 5 | "Defending the Mob" | March 15, 1995 | |
|
A look at the career of Frank Ragano, attorney to Florida mob boss Santo Trafficante, Jr. and corrupt Teamster leader Jimmy Hoffa. | ||||
| 64 | 6 | "Witness Protection" | March 29, 1995 | |
| 65 | 7 | "Kidnapped" | April 4, 1995 | |
|
A look at the cases of biathlete Kari Swenson in Montana and Exxon executive Sidney Reso in New Jersey, and examines just how effective law enforcement authorities are in investigating and negotiating tense kidnap situations. | ||||
| 66 | 8 | "Bad Medicine" | April 19, 1995 | |
|
Includes a nurse suspected of killing babies in her hospital's pediatric intensive care unit; a doctor charged with nine counts of second degree murder; and the owner of the "Personal Best" plastic surgery centers who was accused of allowing his chauffeur to perform medical duties and was hit with 212 malpractice suits. | ||||
| 67 | 9 | "Mob Ladies" | May 10, 1995 | |
|
Features Virginia Hill, who helped Bugsy Siegel build Las Vegas, Arlyne Weiss-Brickman, who trafficked in heroin even while working as an FBI informer, and "Mafia Princess" Antoinette Giancana, who professes great love for her father, mob boss Sam Giancana. | ||||
| 68 | 10 | "Lights! Camera! Courtroom!" | May 24, 1995 | |
|
Features Virginia Hill, who helped Bugsy Siegel build Las Vegas, Arlyne Weiss-Brickman, who trafficked in heroin even while working as an FBI informer, and "Mafia Princess" Antoinette Giancana, who professes great love for her father, mob boss Sam Giancana. | ||||
| 69 | 11 | "Autopsy" | June 14, 1995 | |
| 70 | 12 | "Hired Guns" | June 28, 1995 | |
|
Includes the case of a corrupt businessman who had his partner murdered and a millionaire who arranged to have his wife killed to avoid splitting his fortune with her in divorce proceedings. | ||||
| 71 | 13 | "Cruel and Unusual" | July 5, 1995 | |
|
Includes: Henry Young, who was kept in the "Dark Hole" of Alcatraz; Tommy Ortiz, who was beaten by prison guards wearing lead-filled gloves; and John Evans, whose body was charred in the electric chair. | ||||
| 72 | 14 | "Military Justice" | August 9, 1995 | |
| 73 | 15 | "Stalkers: Deadly Obsession" | August 16, 1995 | |
| 74 | 16 | "Undercover Infiltrators" | September 6, 1995 | |
| 75 | 17 | "Baby Snatchers" | September 13, 1995 | |
| 76 | 18 | "Jailhouse Lawyers" | September 20, 1995 | |
| 77 | 19 | "Assassins" | October 11, 1995 | |
| 78 | 20 | "LAPD" | October 25, 1995 | |
| 79 | 21 | "Bombers" | November 8, 1995 | |
| 80 | 22 | "Deadly Force" | December 13, 1995 | |
| 81 | 23 | "Why O.J. Simpson Won" | December 23, 1995 | |
Season 5[edit]
| # | Title | Episode Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 39 | The Scarsdale Diet Doctor Murder | |
| 40 | The Susan Smith Story: A Mother's Confession | A look back at the shocking story of how Susan Smith drowned her two sons and then tried to fool the nation into believing that an African-American man had committed the crime |
| 41 | The Texas Cheerleader Murder Plot | Probes the bizarre case of Wanda Holloway, who would stop at nothing—including murder—to get her daughter on the cheerleading squad. |
| 42 | Von Bülow: A Wealth of Evidence | An examination of snooty, aristocratic Claus von Bülow and if he attempted to murder his wife. |
| 43 | Murder "In Cold Blood" | Chronicles the 1959 murder of the Clutter family in Kansas, and the investigation that led to the capture, trial, and execution of their two killers, Richard Hickock and Perry Smith. |
| 44 | The Donnie Brasco Story | The true story of Joe Pistone, the FBI agent who risked his life to infiltrate a ruthless New York Mafia family and gather evidence against crime bosses |
| 45 | The Preppie Murder | A probe of the death of young Jennifer Levin, who was killed in New York City's Central Park by Robert Chambers, a handsome prep-school graduate |
| 47 | The Pizza Connection | The story of how the FBI, the DEA and Italy's Polizia di Stato, among other agencies, busted one of the largest drug rings ever involving both the Sicilian and American Mafias importing $1.65 billion USD worth of heroin into the United States between 1975 and 1984. The exploding case led investigators from sidewalk pizzerias in New York, Philadelphia and the Midwest to Zurich's financial districts and Gaetano Badalamenti, a former member of the Sicilian Mafia Commission. Resulted in the longest trial in American judicial history as 22 defendants were tried for approximately 17 months from 1985 to 1987. |
| 48 | The John Lennon Assassination | A look at the twisted mind of Mark David Chapman, the deranged Beatles fan who grew up worshipping John Lennon, then stalked and murdered him in December 1980. |
| 49 | Spree Killers | A look at the crimes and capture of Charles Starkweather and Caril Ann Fugate, teenage lovers who murdered 10 people in the 1950s. |
| 50 | Framed | The shocking story of Clarence Brandley, an innocent man who was convicted of murder and spent seven years on death row before being cleared. |
| 51 | False Witness | The strange case of Gary Dotson, who wasn't released from prison even when the woman who accused him of rape admitted that she'd been lying. |
| 52 | Marriage & Murder | An examination of three cases where husbands and wives have murdered their spouses. Features Charlene Brundidge, who killed her husband, then later won clemency because she was an abused wife. |
| 53 | Hunting Bambi: The Laurie Bembenek Story | The case of beautiful ex-cop Lawrencia "Bambi" Bembenek, who escaped after spending nine years in prison for the murder of her husband's ex-wife. |
| 54 | Dead Woman Walking: The Karla Faye Tucker Story | Recalls the controversial life and death of the first woman executed in Texas since 1984. |
Season 6[edit]
| # | Title | Episode Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 55 | The Green Beret Murder Mystery | Former Green Beret, Jeffrey R. MacDonald, appeals his conviction for the murders of his wife and children. |
| 56 | The Sam Sheppard Story | Dr. Sam Sheppard is convicted of murdering his wife, Marilyn Reese Sheppard, in 1954 and was acquitted for the murder ten years later. |
| 57 | Selena: Murder of A Star | Investigate the murder of Tejano singing sensation Selena and the case against her convicted assassin, Yolanda Saldívar. |
| 58 | Fall From Grace | The stories of high-profile people who have been involved in scandals, including sportscaster Marv Albert, former Rep. Mel Reynolds and former Miss America Bess Myerson. |
| 58 | The Heidi Fleiss Story | An exclusive interview with incarcerated madam Heidi Fleiss reveals her thoughts on her past employment and eventual conviction. |
| 59 | Death Row Prostitute: Aileen Wuornos | Aileen Wuornos, self-described "highway hooker," may be the first woman to fit the profile of a serial killer. |
| 60 | The Sinatra Kidnapping | In 1963, kidnappers get a $240,000 ransom for Frank Sinatra Jr. |
| 61 | The Larry Flynt Story: Hustling The First Amendment | Hustler publisher, Larry Flynt, wins a Supreme Court ruling on the First Amendment. |
| 62 | A Teenage Murder Mystery | Examines the murder of 16-year-old Laurie Show, whose last words led to the arrest of Lisa Michelle Lambert. |
| 63 | A Woman Scorned: The Betty Broderick Story | Elisabeth Anne Broderick murders her ex-husband and his new wife in 1989; after her husband leaves her for a younger woman. |
| 64 | A Murder in Greenwich: The Martha Moxley Case | The murder of 15-year-old Martha Moxley gains worldwide attention in 1975 as the murder suspect, Michael Skakel, is the nephew of Ethel Skakel Kennedy, the widow of Senator Robert F. Kennedy. |
| 65 | Justice Denied: The Hurricane Carter Story | Boxer Rubin "Hurricane" Carter was wrongfully convicted of triple murder and served 19 years in prison before his conviction was overturned in 1985. |
| 66 | Til Death Do Us Part | Barbara Stager is convicted in 1989 of murdering her second husband, Russell Stager, after being acquitted of killing her first husband. |
| 67 | Body of Evidence: The Tom Capano Trial | The story of the former Delaware prosecutor, Thomas Capano, who was sentenced to death for the murder of his ex-lover, Anne Marie Fahey. |
| 68 | The Perfect Murder: The Shannon Mohr Story | The marriage of David Davis and Shannon Mohr comes to an abrupt end when Shannon is killed in what was believed to have been a horseback-riding accident. |
| 69 | Drowning In Lies: The Trial Of Edward Post | After a mistrial and a successful appeal, Edward Post pleads guilty to murdering his wife during his third trial. |
Season 7[edit]
- 70 Payback for a Bully : Murder of Bobby Kent
- 71 “It’s Not My Fault.”: Strange Defenses
- 72 Lethal Injection: The Hospital Murders
- 73 The Jonesboro Schoolyard Ambush
- 74 Sister against Sister: The Twin Murder Plot
- 75 Rape in Connecticut: The Alex Kelly Story
- 76 Duty, Honor...and Murder
- 77 A Parent's Nightmare
- 78 Death Row Radical: Mumia Abu-Jamal
- 79 Dancing, Drugs, & Murder
- 80 Blueprint for Murder
- 81 The Killer Within: Murder of Kathy Bonney
- 82 The Trial Of Louise Woodward
- 83 Getting Away With Murder
- 84 Deadly Magnolia
- 85 Kill Thy Neighbor: George Trepal
- 86 The Life and Death of Teena Brandon
Season 8[edit]
- 87 Oil, Money and Murder - The trials of Texas oilman T. Cullen Davis
- 88 Free To Murder Again
- 89 The Wife Who Knew too Much
- 90 When a Child Kills
- 91 The California Killing Field
- 92 Murder on a Reservation
- 93 Dangerous Medicine?
- 94 A Son's Confession
- 95 Family Secret: The Death of Lisa Steinberg
- 96 Hiding In Plain Sight: Tales Of A Fugitive
- 97 A Mother On Death Row
- 98 The Erin Brockovich Story
- 99 The Boy Who Saw Too Much
- 100 The Atlanta Child Murders
- 101 Who Wants to Kill a Millionaire (The Ted Binion Silver Murder)
- 102 Shotgun Justice
- 103 Shattered Innocence: The Fells Acres Abuse Case
- 104 Raised On Hate
- 105 The Matthew Shepard Story
Season 9[edit]
- 106 Lying Eyes
- 107 Conspiracy to Kill: The Rae Carruth Story
- 108 Eliminating The Competition
- 109 Marijuana And Murder
- 110 Like Mother, Like Son: Sante and Kenny Kimes
- 111 The Girl In The Box
- 112 The Disappearance Of Madalyn Murray O'Hair
- 113 A Mother's Story Of Murder
- 114 Death In A Small Town (Alvin Ridley)
- 115 Millions Of Reasons To Kill
- 116 Driven To Kill
- 117 The Cult Murders
- 118 Brutal Revenge
- 119 An Execution in Doubt
- 120 Suicide By Execution
- 121 The Witness and the Hitman
- 122 While the Children Slept
Season 10[edit]
- 123 The Monster Inside
- 124 Vanished
- 125 Crib Death?
- 126 The Black Widow Of Vegas
- 127 In The Hands Of A Child
- 128 Who Killed Hannah Hill?
- 129 Justifiable Homicide?
- 130 A Questionable Doctor
- 131 A Mother's Betrayal
- 132 The Andrea Yates Story
- 133 A Murder before Homecoming (the murder of Heather Rich)
- 134 Shots in the Dark
- 135 Shamed into Confession
- 136 Mistaken Identity
- 137 Mail Order Murder
- 138 The Corcoran Eight
- 139 To Save Their Souls
- 140 What the Girl Saw
- 141 Murder Online
- 142 Mystery at Sea
Season 11[edit]
- 143 The San Francisco Dog Mauling
- 144 The Central Park Jogger Case: What Went Wrong?
- 145 The Wells Fargo Heist
- 146 Blood Brothers: The Derek and Alex King Case
- 147 The Yosemite Killer
- 148 Don't Mess with Texas
- 149 Another Man's Crime
- 150 Murder by Mercedes
- 151 For Love or Money
- 152 A Deadly Dose
- 153 Playing With Fire
- 154 The Happy Face Killer
- 155 Murder on the Boardwalk
- 156 The Case of Robert Blake
- 157 Traces in Blood
- 158 The Excedrin Killings
- 159 A Soldier's Secret
- 160 Daughter Dearest
- 161 Blood Relations
Season 12[edit]
- 162 Thrill Killers (Erika and Benjamin Sifrit)
- 163 Sins of a Priest: The John Geoghan Story
- 164 The Black Widower
- 165 Under Suspicion: The Case of Catherine Shelton
- 166 Stacey's Story
- 167 Murder in Paradise
- 168 Child's Play, Deadly Play
- 169 Murder & Mrs. B
- 170 The Wrath of Mrs. Jones
- 171 The Doctor's Wife
- 172 A Model Murder
- 173 Double Life, Double Murder
- 174 The Bully of Toulon
- 175 Love Triangle
- 176 Serial Wife
- 177 Who Whacked Zack?
- 178 Accused in Appalachia
- 179 The Brit and the Bodybuilder
- 180 Lies of a Friend
- 181 A Warrant to Kill
Season 13[edit]
- 182 Palm Beach Law
- 183 The Deer Hunting Murder
- 184 The Perfect Wife
- 185 What Happened to Carrie Culberson
- 186 A Confession in Question
- 187 The Scott Peterson Trial
- 188 Murder in the Court
- 189 Countdown to an Execution
- 190 Blood on the Staircase
- 191 The Bridge Murders
- 192 Hamptons Murder Mystery
- 193 The Brothers Kimble
Specials[edit]
- Murder in a College Town
- Special Why O. J. Simpson Won
- Special The Rosenbergs
- Special Who Killed the Candy Heiress?: The Helen Brach Story
- 1600 Why O. J. Simpson Lost:: The Civil Trial
- 58930 Death in a Small Town
- Special Who Is the Lipstick Killer
- 65535 Vigilante Dad
References[edit]
- ^ a b Nakamura, Reid (August 5, 2021). "A&E Revives 'Cold Case Files,' 'American Justice' (Videos)". The Wrap. Retrieved November 24, 2022.
- ^ Priola, Victoria (August 20, 2021). "'American Justice' Season 30 Premieres on A&E: How to Watch, Stream for Free, Channel, Trailer". MassLive.com. Retrieved November 24, 2022.
