Elizabeth Donnelly
Encyclopedia
Elizabeth Donnelly is a fictional character
on the NBC
crime drama Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
, portrayed by Judith Light
since 2002.
ship during season 7. While in the Manhattan District Attorney
Office, however, she serves as the supervisor of Alexandra Cabot and her successor, Casey Novak
; Donnelly has presided over numerous cases Novak has prosecuted, as well as Casey Novak's successor Kim Greylek in the episode "Persona
".
when a man suing for custody of his child sues them for alleged conspiracy
and assault
. The suits are dropped, however, following the man's arrest on kidnapping charges.
In season 7 episode "Gone
", Donnelly's office is bugged, resulting in a witness being abducted and murdered. When Novak and SVU detectives are unable to link the homicide to the bugging, Donnelly is reluctantly forced to dismiss the case, due to lack of witness testimony, though it is later discovered that the defendants indeed bribed a court officer to bug her office.
In the season 9 episode "Cold
", Donnelly calls Casey Novak to her office and informed her that she would be censure
d and suspended for possibly a year or more for violating Brady rules
. Novak asks her what she should do, and Donnelly replies, "Something else."
In Season 10, Donnelly takes a leave of absence from her role as a judge to act as prosecutor on a cold case she was involved with in the 1970s, when a battered woman (Brenda Blethyn
) murdered her husband. She admits to Det. Olivia Benson
that she was somewhat responsible for the woman absconding from custody and therefore took on the case due to "unfinished business." Her role in the escape leads to mishaps in the justice system being termed "doing a Donnelly" for many years to follow. This episode calls attention to the difficulty Donnelly experiences as a woman working in the justice system. But the revelation that the fugitive had been pregnant at the time of her crime leads Donnelly to what, for her, is an act of leniency.
In the season finale episode "Zebras
", Donnelly is poisoned by a syringe that CSU Tech Intern Dale Stuckey (Noel Fisher) had placed on a chair in her home, resulting in her hospitalization. By the end of the episode, she survives and recovers.
Elizabeth Donnelly has appeared in 25 episodes of SVU (13 as a Judge; 12 as a Bureau Chief EADA).
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
on the NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
crime drama Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit is an American police procedural television drama series set in New York City, where it is also primarily produced...
, portrayed by Judith Light
Judith Light
Judith Ellen Light is an American actress. Her television roles include Karen Wolek on the soap opera One Life to Live, Angela Bower on the sitcom Who's the Boss?, Claire Meade on ABC's TV series Ugly Betty and Judge Elizabeth "Liz" Donnelly on Law & Order Special Victims Unit.-Early life:Light...
since 2002.
Character overview
Although originally appearing as a Bureau Chief EADA, Donnelly is elevated to judgeJudge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
ship during season 7. While in the Manhattan District Attorney
New York County District Attorney
The New York County District Attorney is the elected district attorney for New York County , New York. The office is responsible for the prosecution of violations of New York state laws....
Office, however, she serves as the supervisor of Alexandra Cabot and her successor, Casey Novak
Casey Novak
Casey Novak is a fictional character on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, portrayed by Diane Neal. She is the only female assistant district attorney to have appeared in five complete seasons in any Law & Order series and the longest-running ADA in the entire franchise.-Character:Casey Novak is a...
; Donnelly has presided over numerous cases Novak has prosecuted, as well as Casey Novak's successor Kim Greylek in the episode "Persona
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (season 10)
This article contains a list of episodes for season 10 of the television series, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.-Cast:*Christopher Meloni as Det. Elliot Stabler*Mariska Hargitay as Det. Olivia Benson*Richard Belzer as Sgt. John Munch...
".
Notable episodes
Although a judge, Donnelly represents both Casey Novak and Det. Elliot StablerElliot Stabler
Det. Elliot "El" Stabler is a fictional character on the TV crime drama series Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, portrayed by Christopher Meloni. He was the partner of Olivia Benson before retiring, following a shooting.-Character overview:...
when a man suing for custody of his child sues them for alleged conspiracy
Conspiracy (crime)
In the criminal law, a conspiracy is an agreement between two or more persons to break the law at some time in the future, and, in some cases, with at least one overt act in furtherance of that agreement...
and assault
Assault
In law, assault is a crime causing a victim to fear violence. The term is often confused with battery, which involves physical contact. The specific meaning of assault varies between countries, but can refer to an act that causes another to apprehend immediate and personal violence, or in the more...
. The suits are dropped, however, following the man's arrest on kidnapping charges.
In season 7 episode "Gone
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (season 7)
This article contains a list of episodes for season 7 of the television series, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.Christopher Meloni was nominated for his first Emmy in the category of Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series. Mariska Hargitay won the Emmy for Outstading Lead Actress in a Drama...
", Donnelly's office is bugged, resulting in a witness being abducted and murdered. When Novak and SVU detectives are unable to link the homicide to the bugging, Donnelly is reluctantly forced to dismiss the case, due to lack of witness testimony, though it is later discovered that the defendants indeed bribed a court officer to bug her office.
In the season 9 episode "Cold
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (season 9)
This page contains a list of episodes for season 9 of the television series, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.-Cast:*Christopher Meloni as Det. Elliot Stabler*Mariska Hargitay as Det. Olivia Benson*Richard Belzer as Sgt. John Munch...
", Donnelly calls Casey Novak to her office and informed her that she would be censure
Censure
A censure is an expression of strong disapproval or harsh criticism. Among the forms that it can take are a stern rebuke by a legislature, a spiritual penalty imposed by a church, and a negative judgment pronounced on a theological proposition.-Politics:...
d and suspended for possibly a year or more for violating Brady rules
Brady material
Brady material consists of exculpatory or impeaching information and evidence that is material to the guilt or innocence or to the punishment of a defendant. The term comes from the U.S. Supreme Court case, Brady v. Maryland, in which the Supreme Court ruled that suppression by the prosecution of...
. Novak asks her what she should do, and Donnelly replies, "Something else."
In Season 10, Donnelly takes a leave of absence from her role as a judge to act as prosecutor on a cold case she was involved with in the 1970s, when a battered woman (Brenda Blethyn
Brenda Blethyn
Brenda Anne Blethyn, OBE is an English actress who has worked in theatre, television and film. Blethyn has received two Academy Award nominations, two SAG Award nominations, two Emmy Award nominations and three Golden Globe Award nominations, winning one...
) murdered her husband. She admits to Det. Olivia Benson
Olivia Benson
Det. Olivia "Liv" Benson is a fictional character on the NBC police procedural drama Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, portrayed by Mariska Hargitay. She is the former partner of Elliot Stabler. In Season 13, her partner will be Nick Amaro...
that she was somewhat responsible for the woman absconding from custody and therefore took on the case due to "unfinished business." Her role in the escape leads to mishaps in the justice system being termed "doing a Donnelly" for many years to follow. This episode calls attention to the difficulty Donnelly experiences as a woman working in the justice system. But the revelation that the fugitive had been pregnant at the time of her crime leads Donnelly to what, for her, is an act of leniency.
In the season finale episode "Zebras
Zebras (Law & Order: Special Victims Unit)
"Zebras" is the 22nd episode and season finale of the tenth season of the television series Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, and the 224th overall episode of the series. It originally aired on NBC in the United States on June 2, 2009...
", Donnelly is poisoned by a syringe that CSU Tech Intern Dale Stuckey (Noel Fisher) had placed on a chair in her home, resulting in her hospitalization. By the end of the episode, she survives and recovers.
Elizabeth Donnelly has appeared in 25 episodes of SVU (13 as a Judge; 12 as a Bureau Chief EADA).