Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (TV Series)

The Burden of Our Choices (2019)

Christian Clemenson: Forreston Graham

Quotes 

• Forreston Graham : Well, Counselor, you destroyed a family, and helped ensure the murder of another innocent child.

  Dominick Carisi Jr. : I believe in God, Mr. Graham. And I understand abortion causes a death.

  Forreston Graham : Do you?

  Dominick Carisi Jr. : My mother got pregnant when she was 45. This is after having four kids. An ultrasound showed that the the baby had a fetal heart defect. Even if she was able to carry to term, the doctor said the baby wasn't gonna live for more than a few days. My mother decided to terminate. She never told my father, he she told me. She said how much she loved that baby, but she didn't think it was fair. It wasn't fair to her other children, it wasn't fair to that kid. It was only gonna know pain. And then she cried for a week. I didn't know I didn't know what to say to her, but I do know that we both grieved.

  Forreston Graham : Why are you telling me this, Counselor?

  Dominick Carisi Jr. : Because we're not so different, you and me. And I can't imagine that you think it's right that a man who has so lost his way, has so abandoned God, that he would rape his own stepdaughter, should get away with that.

• Judge Karyn Blake : Let me get this straight, Mr. Graham: the State of Ohio has issued arrest warrants for New York City detectives, and you're asking this court to detain these detectives for transfer?

  Forreston Graham : Yes. We ask that the officers immediately turn themselves in to the Mercer County D.A.'s office.

  Vanessa Hadid : This is unprecedented. Your Honor, Ohio has no standing in this matter. It's a family court proceeding.

  Forreston Graham : We see this as a criminal case. The girl made a premeditated decision. We have her computer searches for abortion providers in New York. The detectives, in willful disregard for the Ohio laws, are attempting to facilitate her access to abortion. According to the Ohio statute, they're accessories to murder.

  Dominick Carisi Jr. : First of all, Your Honor, that law has not yet taken effect.

  Forreston Graham : There's also the issue of fetal harm.

  Vanessa Hadid : And we'd also argue the detectives are mandated to enforce New York law, which requires them to protect the lawful reproductive rights of a minor.

  Forreston Graham : There's precedent for comity, respect for the laws of another state. We ask that New York give Ohio law the full faith and credit..

  Dominick Carisi Jr. : And we'd argue that the D.A. from Mercer County's got it backwards. Ohio should give New York full faith and comity by respecting our choice to protect the rights of young women.

  Vanessa Hadid : Simply put, Your Honor, you cannot expect a New York State court to hand over its New York City police officers for doing their jobs.

  Forreston Graham : Yes, our motion is extreme. But what is happening here is pure evil. A modern-day genocide. When future generations look back on this, they will weep. There will be blood on all of your hands.

• Judge Martinez : I'm satisfied Evangeline understands the ramifications of her decision, and that this decision is hers alone.

  Tammy Miller : She can't kill our grandbaby.

  Judge Martinez : Mrs. Miller, I realize this is difficult, but your daughter has rights.

  Forreston Graham : [entering]  Your Honor! We demand an immediate cessation of these proceedings.

  Judge Martinez : And you are?

  Forreston Graham : Forreston Graham. Mercer County D.A.'s office. I'm here to protect the rights of the unborn baby Miller. I have a writ of habeas corpus, asserting that the State of New York is illegally holding Evangeline Miller. I also have arrest warrants for the detectives involved in this case.

  Dominick Carisi Jr. : Well, on what charge? Dominick Carisi, Manhattan D.A.'s office.

  Forreston Graham : I have an arrest warrant for you, too, and your boss. Anyone who facilitates the murder of this baby will be charged with causing fetal harm and conspiracy to commit murder, and is subject to immediate prosecution in the State of Ohio. Here's one for you, too, Judge. So whatever decision you were about to hand down, I'd think twice about making an irrevocable mistake.

• Forreston Graham : Hitler murdered 6 million Jews in the Holocaust. The United States, since Roe versus Wade, has killed 55 million babies. I intend to do everything in my power not to see that number rise by one more child.

  Judge Karyn Blake : Mr. Graham, I'm denying Ohio's request for detainer.

  Forreston Graham : In that case, Your Honor, we appeal. We intend to take this up to the Supreme Court, if necessary.

  Judge Karyn Blake : And that's your right, Mr. Graham.