The first episode chronicles the trial of John Dailey, who is accused of murdering his wife. Many witnesses attest to the fact that Dailey had often spoken about graphically killing her, but there was no body for evidence. The prosecutor was able to sway the jury through intelligent remarks and stong witnesses. John Dailey was given a sentence of 25 years to life in jail.
Deputy District Attorney Garry Haehnle prosecutes Marshall Jones, a father accused of suffocating his 4-month-old son and burying the body in a shallow grave in the woods. Attempting to pass the murder off as an unfortunate accident, the defense paints the picture of a loving father who made one bad decision, which Haehnle must disprove in the eyes of the jury. After Jones is convicted, during the sentencing hearing, he domonstrates his callousness and ultimately his guilt. The judge strongly rebukes him and gives him the maximum sentence.
A man is tried for murder in the first degree. He had supposedly stabbed his girlfriend out of jealousy. However, the intent that the prosecutor describes does not match up with the lustful insanity that the defense describes. After credible witnesses help the case, Vasquez is sentenced. During the sentencing, Vasquez and his brother attack the prosecutor (Lindberg) and they both are given extended jail sentences.
A man is tried for the rape of a woman. What would seem like an easy case, difficulties appear because the victim had been inebriated and may have not been fully aware of her actions. Luckily, the defendant gives the least plausible testimony that he could give, which would give him a jail sentence.
A girlfriend of a gang member is found dead from a bullet behind a dumpster. With a minimal amount of evidence and a difficult judge, it becomes difficult for the District Attorney to convince the jury that the murderer was the victim's boyfriend.
In the first case of Villa, the defendant is brought up on charges of beating his wife and committing a third strike of domestic abuse. In another case, the Deputy District Attorney tries to get Schierbaum convicted of crimes including kidnapping and sexual assault, and attempted murder. The parallels between the cases can be seen in the domestic abuse of Villa and the violence made by Schierbaum towards his children and wife.
A girl who had been kidnapped and abused within her own apartment complex comes to the stand to give her attacker a prison sentence. Difficulties arise when the both parties admit to a candy exchange on more than one instance. Given the fact that Taitano's roommate had a record of child abuse, the defense tries to persuade a jury that the roommate had been the perpetrator in the incident. Despite a believable plea, the defense does not sway the jury...fully.
For a strange twist in the series, this case has a living victim that supports the defendant. When Garcia is found by his wife wearing her lingerie and partaking in controversial activities, he becomes enraged and stabs her. She survives and makes a case against her husband difficult because her guilt compels her to want to save him from a sentence.
A District Attorney with a heavy caseload tries two cases in this episode. The first case has a high media spotlight because Kayser is being tried on DWI charges. He had killed a 13 year old boy while driving. emotions are unleashed by the boy's family and the case is followed closely in the news. Bowman's second case deals with Palomino, who is convicted of possessing crystal meth. The case becomes more complicated because it was not his first parole violation.
When a man is killed, matters become complicated when it becomes apparents that California gangs are entrenched in the incident. An eye-witness is killed before the hearing and other witnesses lose any recollection of the murder. Even though there are many charges, Redondo is only found guilty of only one. A mistrial is called due to a deadlock on other charges.
Keeshawn Scott seems anything but innocent when he is accused of an unsolicited premeditated murder. He shoots a man in his girlfriend's home but the crime is deemed a murder in the first-degree. The second case explores a serious offense when a teenager is brought up on charges after purportedly threatening high school students that survived high school shootings through e-mail.
A drunken murder occurs when an inebriated Mayta becomes upset at a popular gay night club. Mayta is unhappy when a man he is seeking is uninterested which prompts the defendant to kill a bystander. However, the District Attorney is convinced that the murder was not a drunken crime of passion but rather a premeditated crime.
An especially heinous murder occurred, where the victim was stabbed and tortured to death. The defendant had a shoddy record filled with violence and lack of temper control. Witnesses testifying against Arnold included his son, wife, and parents.
As the defendant is brought up on numerous charges, his biggest mistake (second only to the crimes) was representing himself. By not having a layer, Nourn was unable to form directed questions or sway the jury in his favor.
A man is brought up on 19 counts of sexual molestation for molesting his own children, relatives, and neighbors. Because the charges are made years after the abuse, the defense claims that the witnesses formed their stories through suggestability. The children supposedly has been offered stories through therapists and friends. However, when the verdict was rendered, the suggestability went towards the defendant as he was found guilty on all charges.
Emile Robershaw is on trail for vehicular manslaughter and drinking under the influence. He allegedly drove this girlfriend from a party very drunk. He crashed the truck and killed Josh. Emile defense tells the jury it is inconclusive who was behind the wheel. Sherea Boone, Emile's then girlfriend was injured in the crash. She was dazed but according to witnesses she was wandering around chatting to her boy friend. Shannon Williams, who also got offered a ride home from josh. she was not drinking. A short time later she was drinking home and saw the accident. She testifies that Emile had no memory as to what happen and even to Josh was not drinking. Josh mother Laura also testifies for emile. They also called James Garrity as a witness. The jury verdict is guilty. Emile is sentenced to 4 years, 8 months of prison.
Deputy District Attorney Rachel Solovis prosecuting Joseph Villarino Jr. for kidnapping and five counts of rape. The jury verdict is guilty he was charged with kidnapping and four counts of rape. Villarino is sentenced to 228 years in prison after he arrogantly scolds the judge about the way the trail was handled.
Hugo Alcazar is on trail for the rape of 14 year old Carla, and the rape, torture and murder of her friend Diana Rodriguez. The jury reaches a very swift verdict. Hugo Alcazar is guilty of first degree murder and is sentenced to life without parole.
Delia Contreras was convicted for the 1998 ,urder of her husband, Anselmo Vasquez, and she's been incarcerated. But an appeal on a Miranda Vislation brings her back to court and D.D.A. Jill DiCarlo is retrying the case. The jury deliberates for several days, and in the end, they come back with 11-1 for guilty, but that one holdout means it's a hung jury, and a mistrail. DiCarlo has to try the case again, hoping the thrid time's the ch
George Waller and Lawrence Calhoun stand trial for second degree murder, when their reckless drag racing caused an accident that killed two teenagers and gravely injured another passenger. D.D.A. Blaine Bowman wants the defendants charged with Second Degree Murder, while the defense attorney's claim they should be charged with vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence
D.D.A. Marisa Ditillio prosecutes Brenda Cook for animal negligence after finding her potbelly pig emaciated in the backseat of her car. And, D.D.A. Corinne Miesfeld prosecutes Lawrence Marsh on 67 counts of identity theft
D.D.A. Kurt Mechals prosecutes Bernard Cutts for the murder of his girlfriend Cynthia Johnson, whose 18 year-old son found her bullet-ridden body. While the prosecution asserts that a domestic dispute resulted in murder, the defense attempts to taint the reputation of the victim's son, whose distraught recorded testimony is jarring to members of the jury.
Terry Hall is on trial for killing his wife after discovering she was unfaithful to him while he was away at sea. He's admitted to killing her, the question is whether it's manslaughter or first degree murder.
D.D.A. Allison Worden seeks to have a high school coach registered as a sex offender when witnesses say that he was masturbating outside during a football game in the presence of minors. Defense attorney Anthony Gilham claims his client has prostate problems and was urinating.
A 17-year-old defendant is accused of abducting and molesting an eight-year-old girl and attempting to abduct a four-year-old.