Jake Brigance, the legendary defense attorney of If You Must Kill, is back in the courtroom. This time, he represents a 16-year-old boy accused of killing a local police officer. In Clanton, southern Mississippi, public sentiment calls for a speedy trial and the death penalty. However, Brigance knows that there is much more to the case than meets the eye. His intention is to save the boy from the gas chamber, but in doing so he not only puts his career and financial situation at risk, but also endangers the lives of his entire family.