Justice (1971)

A landmark British legal drama featuring Margaret Lockwood as Harriet Peterson, a pioneering female barrister fighting for justice in 1970s northern England.

Justice - Series Information

  • Original Title: Justice
  • First Air Year: 1971
  • Last Air Year: 1974
  • Created by: James Mitchell, Edmund Ward et al.
  • Type: TV Series
  • Genres: Drama
  • Episode Runtime: Average runtime per episode (60 minutes)
  • Number of Seasons: 3
  • Number of Episodes: 39
  • Status: Ended
  • Original Language: English
  • Spoken Languages: English
  • Networks: ITV1
  • Production Companies: Yorkshire Television

Justice - Plot

Justice is a British drama television series which originally aired on ITV in 39 hour-long episodes between 8 August 1971 and 16 October 1974. Margaret Lockwood stars as Harriet Peterson a female barrister in the North of England. It was made by Yorkshire Television and was based loosely on Justice Is a Woman, an episode of ITV Playhouse broadcast in 1969 in which Lockwood had previously also played a barrister. The theme music was Crown Imperial by William Walton.

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Justice - Cast & Crew

Creator(s)

  • James Mitchell
  • Edmund Ward
  • John Malcolm

Main Cast

  • Margaret Lockwood
  • John Stone
  • John Bryans
  • Philip Stone
  • Anthony Valentine
  • Rosie Collins
  • Carolyn Courage
  • Carleton Hobbs
  • Michael Coles
  • Frederick Hall

Writers

  • John Malcolm
  • James Mitchell
  • Bill MacIlwraith
  • David Ambrose
  • Kevin Laffan

Executive Producers

  • Peter Willes

Justice - FAQs

Is Justice based on a true story or real cases?

Justice is not based on a single true story, but it draws on the realities of legal practice in 1970s England. The character of Harriet Peterson was inspired by the challenges faced by women entering the legal profession at a time when female barristers were still a rarity in British courts.

Who plays the lead role in Justice?

Margaret Lockwood takes the lead as Harriet Peterson, a determined female barrister practising in the North of England. Lockwood had previously played a barrister in the 1969 ITV Playhouse episode Justice Is a Woman, which directly inspired this series and cemented her association with the role.

What is Justice the TV series about?

Justice follows Harriet Peterson, a sharp and principled female barrister navigating the male-dominated legal world of northern England in the early 1970s. Each episode presents her with a new case, blending courtroom drama with the personal and professional obstacles she faces as a pioneering woman in law.

Where can you stream or watch Justice (1971)?

Streaming availability for Justice varies by region. Check JustWatch for the most up-to-date viewing options in your area, as availability on digital platforms can change. Physical media or archive broadcasters may also carry episodes of this classic British ITV series.

How many seasons and episodes does Justice have?

Justice ran for three seasons between 1971 and 1974, with each season comprising 13 episodes for a total of 39 hour-long instalments. Produced by Yorkshire Television and broadcast on ITV, the series maintained a consistent format throughout its three-year run.

Was Justice well received by critics and audiences?

Justice earned a warm reception from British audiences during its original ITV run, largely thanks to Margaret Lockwood's commanding performance. The series was praised for placing a capable, independent woman at the centre of a legal drama at a time when such representation on British television was genuinely groundbreaking.

What inspired the creation of Justice?

Justice grew directly out of Justice Is a Woman, a 1969 episode of ITV Playhouse in which Margaret Lockwood had already played a female barrister. The positive response to that standalone drama convinced Yorkshire Television to develop the concept into a full series, with Lockwood reprising her role as Harriet Peterson.

What are similar shows to Justice (1971)?

Fans of Justice often enjoy other legal dramas featuring strong lead characters, such as Silk, Fairly Legal, The Good Wife, and Perry Mason. For more classic British drama from the same era, Elizabeth R (1971) offers a similarly strong female protagonist and high production values from the same period.

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