CBS Show ‘The Good Wife’ Films in Mineola

Keep in mind that the in Mineola was originally the county courthouse. While it’s current role has it cast as the county’s legislative branch, that did not stop producers from doing a little bit of makeup and turning it back into a setting for an episode of of the CBS drama “The Good Wife” this past week.

Majority Leader Peter Schmitt’s offices were left mostly untouched as a directional sign indicated they were going to be used for a judge’s chambers, while the second-floor ceremonial room most used for press conferences from the county executive had a railing installed midway through the space, changing it into an old-style courtroom. A sign giving directions read “JAG Courtroom,” a possible reference that the episode being filmed may involve Judge Advocate Generals, the legal branch of the U.S. military. A Department of the Army sign was observed on the first floor.

Crews began setting up Monday this week, with the actual filming taking place on Thursday afternoon and evening for what is believed to be a 3-minute segment of the show. For its part in the filming, the county will receive about $16,000 for the building’s use and $4,000 to cover security, custodians and logistics.

The show stars Julianna Marguiles as a former state attorney and the ex-wife of a governor who was put in jail due to his involvement in a sex scandal, who returns to her role as an attorney in order to provide for her family. The show also stars Josh Charles as an old friend of Marguiles’ character from college who has an affair with her and is also the subject of a bribery scandal.

Amanda Peet was also spotted on the set, as she has a recurring guest role in the show’s fourth season as a military lawyer who hires Marguiles’ character to represent her. Peet’s character reportedly will sue a contract worker for attempted sexual assault. According to IMDb, the only episode of the series Peet is listed on is entitled “I Fought the Law,” a reference to the Bobby Fueller song of the same name. It is listed with an air date of September 30, the first episode of the new season.

Producers had also reached out to the Village of New Hyde Park, requesting to use the village’s courtroom for filming, but were due to the consideration that it would prove too disruptive to day-to-day village business. It is not known if the scenes that were proposed to be shot in New Hyde Park were the same ones being filmed at the legislature.