Jimmy Brogan, born and raised in Hell's Kitchen and one of New York's rising criminal defense attorney stars. Kathryn Peale, the product of a New England background and a sheriff father, is a Deputy Bureau Chief in the Manhattan District Attorney's office. These two have been friends (but enemies in the courtroom) since their days at Yale Law School, and face off in this episode about a high school history teacher and family man who's arrested for the rape and murder of a female student.

Judd Hirsch stars as Judge Ruben Wright, a much-loved jurist accused of murder. Of all the lawyers who've come through his courtroom, Wright chooses Jimmy to represent him - and Kathryn Peale must prosecute, despite severe misgivings. Jimmy, Kathryn and Judge Wright have often shared a courtroom, but when they did, Judge Wright was at the bench; now he's at the defense table.