American Justice

- Season 4

(1995)

American Justice examines four modern hoaxes including the 1950s quiz-show scandals, the fraudulent biography of Howard Hughes, the so-called "Morman Murders", and the Tawana Brawley rape allegations.

a historical account of how the government of the United States and the American mafia made an impact on each other.

"Do celebrities get equal justice?" asks Bill Kurtis in a report that looks at criminal cases involving well-known personalities. Included: the 1983 trial of director John Landis for the deaths of three actors (including Vic Morrow) on the set of "Twilight Zone: The Movie."

Reviewing the cases of spies. Included: CIA turncoat Aldrich Ames; Jonathan Pollard, who spied for Israel; and John Walker, who sold secrets to the Soviets for 17 years before his arrest in 1985.

American Justice profiles mob lawyers Frank Ragano and Bruce Cutler. Ragano became deeply involved in defending mob figures Santo Trafficante Jr. and Jimmy Hoffa, while at the same time going up against Bobby and John F. Kennedy who were cracking down on the mob. Cutler became John Gotti's go to lawyer and was able to get Gotti off numerous times, earning Gotti the nickname "The Teflon Don".

Profiles of participants in the Federal Witness Protection Program include a one-time "gangster in training" in New York's Gambino mob family who testified against his uncle. Also: the case of mobster Salvatore ("Sammy the Bull") Gravano, who "flipped" on John Gotti and whose testimony was instrumental in Gotti's conviction.

Examining cases in which pathologists have unraveled murder mysteries. A pathologist "is the dead's advocate," says King County (Wash.) medical examiner Donald Reay, who was instrumental in winning a conviction in a serial-killer case.

American Justice profiles the life of serial killer Henry Lee Lucas from Virginia. Lucas, who killed his mother in 1960 was released from prison in 1970 and went on a killing spree as a drifter. During this time he met up with Ottis Toole and together they killed at lest 6 people, but possibly many more. Though Lucas himself was only convicted of 11 murders he would later confess to over 150 killings from across the country. In some cases it made it difficult for investigators to find the real killer because Lucas could seemingly provide intimate details of the ...

A review of cameras in courtrooms, from the 1925 Scopes "monkey" trial through the O.J. Simpson case. Also included: 1935's Lindbergh kidnapping trial; the William Kennedy Smith date-rape trial; and Theodore Bundy's 1979 Florida murder trial. Interviewed: Court TV founder Steven Brill; Constitutional expert Floyd Abrams.

Chronicles the Genovese crime family from its inception in the Prohibition Era, led by Lucky Luciano through the 1930's, Costello in the 40's and 50's, Genovese in the 60's and 70's, then the Gambinos and finally the Gotti era of the 90's.

Case studies of people who were murdered by contract killers include a New York journalist whose death was ordered by Colombian drug barons in 1992. Also: a history of organized crime's "Murder, Inc." in the 1930

An examination of allegations of cruel and unusual punishment in the U.S., including a case in which an Alcatraz inmate charged that, in 1941, his harsh treatment at the prison drove him mad; and another involving an Illinois prisoner who claimed that guards broke his back during a 1988 beating.

Military cases are examined. Included: the trials of Eddie Slovik, the only U.S. soldier executed for desertion during WWII; Vietnam POW Robert Garwood, convicted of collaborating with the enemy; and Clayton Lonetree, a Marine guard found guilty of espionage in 1987.

Prominent stalking cases are explored, including John Lennon's murder by Mark David Chapman; actress Theresa Saldana's near-fatal encounter with a stalker; and Illinois housewife Dawn Wilson's assault by her ex-husband.

Probing the world of covert investigation in "Undercover: The Infiltrators." Included: a case of suspected fraud; a DEA sting operation; and allegations of court corruption.

Four women convicted of abducting infants are profiled, along with a couple involved in a baby-selling scheme. Those interviewed include one of the women, police officials and prosecutors.

The contributions and excesses of jailhouse inmates who become legal experts are examined. Interviewed: Jerry Rosenberg, the "dean of jailhouse lawyers"; and Colorado prisoner Richard Demarest, who took a case to the Supreme Court from his cell---and won.

A study of assassins probes the cases of Sirhan Sirhan, who killed Sen. Robert Kennedy in 1968; Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme, who attempted to shoot President Ford in 1975; and James Earl Ray, who claims he's innocent of the 1968 murder of Martin Luther King Jr. Included: comments from prosecutors, defense attorneys and political scientists.

The legacy of the Los Angeles Police Department is examined in a review of some of its biggest cases since the 1950s---including the O.J. Simpson case. Interviewed: police chief Willie Williams and former chief Daryl Gates.

An examination of notorious U.S. bombing incidents, including the case of Michael Stevens, who sent six bombs to members of the same family in 1993. Also: George Metesky, New York City's "Mad Bomber" of the 1940s and 50s and Robert Chambliss, convicted of an Alabama church bombing in 1963.

An examination of incidents in which suspects or citizens have allegedly been killed by police, FBI or other government enforcers in the line of duty. Included: cases in Philadelphia, New York and Idaho.

This 2 hour special examines the successful defense strategy in the 1994 O. J. Simpson murder trial: a police conspiracy based on racism. It includes footage from televised events, interviews with lawyers and investigators, and the trial. Mistakes in handling evidence have produced changes in CSI procedures everywhere.