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"Take This Sabbath Day" is the 14th episode of The West Wing.
Plot
After a death penalty appeal is rejected by the U.S. Supreme Court, one of the attorneys Noah Emmerich reaches out to Sam for help. The case involves a drug dealer who killed two other dealers and is eligible for capital punishment under a new omnibus crime bill. The court renders its judgment on a Friday, and the execution is to take place at midnight on Monday. The convict's only hope is to have his sentence commuted by the President.
Sam makes an effort to persuade Toby to help convince the President to commute the sentence; he gives the convict's attorney the location of Toby's synagogue and the rabbi in turn delivers a sermon condemning vengence. The issue is later laid before the President, who is incredibly conflicted.
Meanwhile, Josh has a meeting with an irate woman named Joey Lucas, who proceeds to berate him for cutting her Congressional candidate's funding. Josh is taken aback by both Joey's brilliance and beauty, and surprised by the fact that she is also deaf.
Bartlet continues to agonize over the death penalty issue and asks for guidance. While he is personally opposed to the death penalty, he recognizes that most Americans support it and does not feel that his personal beliefs can legitimately overrule the wishes of the American public. Leo advises the President that for once, the issue should be the next guy's problem.
Despite Sam's protests, the president ultimately chooses not to commute the sentence.
Title
The title of the episode is a reference to the bible, in which God instructs, "Observe/Safeguard the Sabbath day," in the Ten Commandments, Deuteronomy 5:1-22. It references the scene in which Sam explains to Leo, "We don't execute people between sundown Friday and sundown Sunday" because of the Sabbath.
Emmy Awards
- Nominated
- Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series (nominee: Martin Sheen)
Notes
- This is one of only four episodes (the others being the Pilot episode, The Stormy Present and Access) which do not feature a "Previously on The West Wing" segment.
External links
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