The new legal drama For the People on ABC features six young attorneys. They take the oath to uphold and protect the Constitution as they are sworn into the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York — a.k.a. “The Mother Court.” Judge Nicholas Byrne (Vondie Curtis-Hall) presides with his right-hand clerk of Court Tina Krissman.
Court clerk Ms. Krissman is portrayed by Anna Deavere Smith. As a screen actress Deveare Smith known for her roles on black-ish (Bow’s mother Alicia), Nurse Jackie (Gloria Akalitus), The West Wing (National Security Advisor Nancy McNally), and in the films Rachel Getting Married (Carol), The Human Stain (Mrs. Silk), and Philadelphia (Anthea Burton), among others. On stage, and as a playwright, she’s known for her plays “Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992”, and “Fires in the Mirror”, for which she was nominated for the 1993 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Deavere Smith has received countless accolades for her work in the arts and for civil rights. In 1996 she was selected as MacArthur Fellow, a prize commonly known as the “genius grant.” For the People airs Tuesdays at 10pm on ABC, right after black-ish.
