4 Great Courtroom Drama Mini-Series Recommendations

Although a cancellation of a good television series before its prime-before it's had a chance to ripen and develop-is lamentable, we can take advantage of their brevity, thanks to DVDs. Sometimes, a good short series in exactly what you're looking for. Epic, yet contained.

If you love courtroom drama, whodunits, and attorney/detective procedurals, there are some great series that you may have never heard of, or have just kept meaning to watch or rent. They're all available on DVD from Netflix, for purchase, and perhaps even at your public library.

Conviction
13 episodes, all available as instant viewing at Netflix, and as DVD

Any Law & Order fan won't want to miss Conviction. From the Law & Order writers and producers, and starring Stephanie March in her role as Law & Order's post-witness-protection-plan Alexandra Cabot, this series is nicely well-developed with rounded, complex characters.

Murder One
The Goldilocks Murder Season 1
All 23 episodes available for free online viewing at Hulu.
Also available on DVD

Unlike most law and courtroom oriented shows, the first entire season of Murder One primarily follows one main case and storyline. Like 24, this device works well, and is extremely compelling. If it were a novel, it would be called a page-turner.

I had never even heard of this show when I found it at the library, which surprised me because I am a huge fan of courtroom drama series and movies. Only after watching the entire series (in less than a couple days, I am only slightly embarrassed to admit-it's that compelling and suspenseful) did I see that it originally aired way back in 1995. I was a bit stunned-not that 1995 is ancient times, but the series seemed so contemporary both in writing and style.

There are great performances by well known actors like Stanley Tucci, Daniel Benzali (he is extraordinary in this series) and Patricia Clarkson.

Trial By Jury
13 episodes, available on DVD

This is the "lost" Law & Order series. It would have been easy to miss had you happened to sneeze or blink in 2005-only 13 episodes aired. This is the series of the franchise that is most focused on the courtroom aspects of the cases. So, if you are a Law & Order die-hard who happened to miss this one, or just love courtroom drama, you'll love this series.

The Staircase
8 episodes plus "extras" available on DVD

This mini-series is not a drama, but a documentary. It's such a bizarre and fascinating case with shocks, twists, blows, and turns, that it has been the inspiration for several based-on-a-true-story episodes of various shows, like CSI. It is quite possibly the most suspenseful, forcing-myself-not-to-Google-the-ending, series I have ever seen in my life.

While watching it, it's easy to get so wrapped up in the intimacy of the family life, and all the tragedy, hope, and belief, that you can lose sight of the fact that it is actually being filmed. That the filmmakers had such access and permission, while conveying such a sense of non-presence and invisibility, is really brilliant storytelling. The Staircase is simply excellent, and must be seen to be believed. Don't miss the extras!