This episode appears to be based on the 1989 Menendez brothers case. A double homicide that occurred in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles. [Cragen: "That case in La La Land..."] On August 20, 1989, Lyle and Erik Menendez murdered their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez, and then went to the movies to give themselves an alibi. They were later convicted of the murder in a highly publicized trial. They claimed that they were driven to it by a lifetime of abuse from their parents, including sexual abuse from their father. The past criminal records of the brothers stood in contrast to their "escape from parental abuse" theory. Under the terms of the sentences for their multiple crimes, the brothers are expected to spend the remainder of their lives in prison. The Menendez brothers case is also the subject of the "Law & Order" spin-off series "Law & Order True Crime (2017)," which is a "true crime" anthology series that goes into the details of the investigation and the trials of the brothers.
If she must teem,/ Create her child of spleen, that it may live/ And be a thwart disnatur'd torment to her!/ Let it stamp wrinkles in her brow of youth,/ With cadent tears fret channels in her cheeks,/ Turn all her mother's pains and benefits/ To laughter and contempt, that she may feel/ HOW SHARPER THAN A SERPENT'S TOOTH IT IS/ TO HAVE A THANKLESS CHILD! --William Shakespeare King Lear (1606): Act 1, scene 4, 281 - 289.
Chris Noth (Detective Mike Logan) & Bernie McInerney (Judge Michael Callahan) also worked together on Death Row Tip (2011) (episode 3.8), and Wasichu (2006) (episode 5.14).