This episode appears to be based on the 1994 Paul Jennings Hill case. In 1994, Hill shot and killed Dr. John Bayard Britton and Britton's escort, James H. Barrett, because Britton performed medical abortions at the Pensacola Ladies Center. Hill, a former minister, maintained that he did nothing wrong throughout his entire time on death row. He was executed on September 3, 2003. So far Hill is the only person in the US to be executed for the murder of an abortion doctor.
This is the 100th episode of "Law & Order."
EADA McCoy asks Seely if the Bible condemns abortion, to which he replies no. The Bible has a number of verses condoning the killing of pregnant women and their unborn children, specifically "ripping open" the women.
Edward Herrmann has played three different characters over the course of the series:
- Episode 5.12 Progeny (1995) - Drew Seely
- Episode 9.20 Empire (1999) - Mr. Mosbeck
- Episode 19.17 Anchors Away (2009) - Frederic Matson
Jack Gilpin plays Dr. Simon Reed in this episode. He would go on to play Attorney Axtell in four later episodes.