In Chicago, a gruesome murder shakes the city as the Archbishop is found brutally killed. Martin Vail, a hotshot defense attorney with a talent for taking on high-profile cases, sees an opportunity to elevate his career and decides to represent the accused without charge. The defendant, Aaron Stampler, is a timid, stuttering altar boy from Kentucky, who was found fleeing the scene of the crime, covered in blood. Claiming innocence, Aaron's vulnerability and apparent dissociative identity disorder draw Vail into the complexities of his case, challenging his cynicism and igniting a spark of compassion. As Vail digs deeper, he uncovers a tangled web of corruption and secrets within the church, which may point to Aaron's innocence or reveal a deeper evil at play.

The prosecution, led by Vail's ex-lover and courtroom rival, Janet Venable, is equally determined to prove Aaron's guilt, creating a tense battle of wits in the courtroom. As the case progresses, Vail's investigation leads him to question the very foundations of the legal system and his role within it. The defense hinges on exposing the hidden layers of manipulation and deceit surrounding the case, while grappling with unexpected developments that threaten to unravel Vail's strategies. The trial becomes not only a quest for justice for the Archbishop's murder but also a journey of personal redemption for Vail, forcing him to confront his motives and ethics in the pursuit of the truth.