It’s taken way too long but network upfront buzz is finally starting, and this one is a doozy for ‘Law & Order’ fans. NBC’s drama franchise headed up by Dick Wolf has managed to hold off CBS’ ‘CSI’ series’ thus far, but their struggling Friday night drama ‘Law & Order: Trial By Jury’ is rumoured to be on the chopping block. The show launched to large ratings in mid-season, mostly due to the well-publicized final screen appearance of ‘Law & Order’ vet Jerry Orbach, who had lost his battle to cancer just prior to the premiere. Since that time ratings on Friday nights have struggled, averaging just over 11,000,000. While strong numbers in their own right, NBC apparently expects more from the franchise, and is expected to leave the show off their fall schedule, being announced Monday. This will be the second failed ‘Law & Order’ spin-off, after the little-remembered 2002 series ‘Law & Order: Crime & Punishment’ that followed real-life crimes to trial.