Laverne Cox cast in new CBS legal drama 'Doubt'

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 12 (UPI) -- Actress Laverne Cox has been cast in an upcoming legal procedural drama pilot by CBS.

In Doubt, Laverne will play a transgender attorney who attended an Ivy League school, Entertainment Weekly reports. Her character is described as being as "competitive as she is compassionate. She's fierce, funny and the fact that she's experienced injustice first hand makes her fight all the harder for her clients."

Cox's role specifically called for a transgender actress, and according to The Hollywood Reporter, the part is "one of the biggest showings of diversity yet this pilot season."

Doubt will follow a yet-to-be-cast female lawyer who starts a relationship with a client who may or may not have committed a crime. The pilot will be penned by Grey's Anatomy alums Tony Phelan and Joan Rater.

Upon the release of the news, Cox wrote on Twitter she was "so grateful for the universe's plan for me and the amazing people in my life who support me and that plan."

The 30-year-old actress is best known for her role in Netflix's Orange is the New Black and made history last award season after becoming the first Emmy-nominated transgender actress for her portrayal of inmate Sophia Burset.

News of Cox's new role comes as Fox's musical comedy Glee introduces its second transgender character, Shannon Beiste, to the show.