SHOWTIME Documentary Films today announced it will air CONFIRMED (w/t), a new docuseries from Emmy® nominated director Dawn Porter (The Way I See It, John Lewis: Good Trouble). The four-part series traces the modern history of the Supreme Court, and the people, decisions, and confirmation battles that have shaped the United States. Produced by Trilogy Films and Sony Pictures Television, the docuseries will air in early 2023. The announcement was made by Vinnie Malhotra, Executive Vice President, Nonfiction Programming, Showtime Networks Inc.
From the right to privacy, to access to the ballot, and all rights protected by the Constitution, the nine unelected justices of the Supreme Court have the final word on issues that shape our democracy and daily lives. The series unfolds during a profoundly consequential year, from the historic confirmation of Ketanji Brown Jackson, the fallout of an unprecedented leak from inside the Court’s chambers, and a Supreme Court, remade by former President Donald Trump, in the wake of overturning Roe v. Wade. To understand this critical moment, the series looks back at the Court in the 1950s, when Chief Justice Earl Warren heralded an era of progressive legal decisions that set the zigzagging path the country is still walking today. As the Court’s role in American society becomes increasingly prominent and bitterly contested, CONFIRMED (w/t) reveals how much of the country’s story is wrapped up in the Supreme Court’s deliberations and considers what this means for America’s future.
“You can easily argue that more than any election or institution, the future of the U.S. will be dictated by the actions of the Supreme Court,” said Malhotra. “CONFIRMED will bring indispensable context to how we got to this moment in time, while also breaking down the maelstrom of activity that is altering the course of the nation this very year.”
“We’ve been working on this series for months now, but I’ve recently began to describe it as a thriller,” said Porter. “We literally are trying to keep up with a seemingly never-ending story of change. SHOWTIME had the presence of mind to commission this project well before we knew what monumental shifts would occur during production. We hope everyone will tune in to learn more about one of the most powerful influences in America. The Supreme Court determines our fundamental rights and privileges. We all need to know how it works.”
Porter’s recent work includes The Me You Can’t See, Executive Produced by Oprah Winfrey and Prince Harry, Emmy nominated The Way I See It, John Lewis: Good Trouble, and Gideon’s Army, for which she was nominated for an Emmy and a Film Independent Spirit Award as director.
The documentary is produced for SHOWTIME by Trilogy Films and Sony Pictures Television. In addition to director, Porter is an Executive Producer, along with Eli Holzman and Aaron Saidman for Sony Pictures Television.
