 Everything brilliant and compassionate defense attorney Paul Madriani stands for is put to the test when he s hired to defend an indefensible adversary. Baltimore s Judge Armando Acosti s harsh and inflexible rulings are notorious. His unjust sentence of attorney Paul Madriani s latest client, an abused wife charged with the murder of her husband, is proof. But Madriani soon finds himself in a curious position of power over the judge. Acosti is arrested for soliciting a prostitute-undercover vice cop, Brittany Hill, who s called in as key witness for the prosecution. Acosti denies the charges, but when Hill is murdered-and all evidence points to the judge - Acosti finds himself in desperate need of a savvy defense. The irony isn t lost on Madriani. Neither is the question of whether or not his unlikely new client is indeed, innocent. Acosti has a motive, no alibi, an aggressive nature and temper, and a scandalous reputation for consorting with prostitutes. Mounting Acosti s defense is a challenge. Especially when Madriani is faced with threats against his life, uncooperative witnesses, a serpentine trail of police corruption, a dangerously ambitious prosecutor, and an antagonistic client who may be both judge and executioner.