Plot Synopsis

Directed by Dawn Porter, DEADLOCKED: HOW AMERICA SHAPED THE SUPREME COURT is a four-part documentary that tells the timely story of the Supreme Court -- from the 1950s to the controversial present -- while examining the people, decisions and confirmation battles that have shaped the Court into what it is today. Weighing in on all rights protected by the Constitution, the nine unelected Justices of the Supreme Court have the final word on issues that impact our democracy and daily lives, including the right to privacy and access to the ballot. DEADLOCKED premieres at a profoundly consequential time, as Americans grapple with a Supreme Court drastically remade by former President Donald Trump; the historic confirmation of Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson; the unprecedented leak from inside the Court's chambers; and the aftershock of the landmark Dobbs decision's effective reversal of Roe v. Wade. To understand this critical moment, the series travels back to the 1950s when Chief Justice Earl Warren heralded an era of progressive legal decisions spurred by the nation's changing values, paving the zigzagging path the country is still walking today. DEADLOCKED reveals how the Supreme Court's ideological balance has shifted over the years to reflect the hopes -- and fears -- of American citizens, exploring the interconnectedness between the Court's and the nation's future. Episodes include:

"The Hearts of Men Can Be Changed" (Friday, September 22, 2023): Thurgood Marshall fights to tear down the segregationist system and uses the law to build a more just society, expanding the rights of minorities, criminal defendants, and the poor, as the Supreme Court's role becomes increasingly prominent.

"A Conservative Revolution" (Friday, September 29, 2023): Documentary series examining the vital role the Supreme Court plays in the context of America's shifting political landscape. Features an in-depth look at pivotal cases that altered the state of the union.

"The Rule of Five" (Friday, October 6, 2023): Bush v. Gore divides the nation and challenges perceptions of the Court; the Supreme Court enters a new era of ideological polarization.

"Crisis of Legitimacy" (Friday, October 13, 2023): With the confirmations of Justices Gorsuch, Kavanaugh, and Barrett, the Court moves decisively to the right; the Court faces charges of partisanship as its conservative majority appears set to shape American life in the coming decades.