Judge John Deed

Jo Mills defends a drug addict who has been charged with attempted murder and escaped from custody 16 years before. He claims that the police forced him to sign a confession.

The air in Deed's court grows heavy with intimidation, when three men are charged for murdering a rival gang member.

A jury finds a prisoner who killed a paedophile not guilty. The man shocks Jo at a press conference by calling the country to arms; Jo's hopes of adoption are dashed when Michael's real father turns up from South Africa.

Judges turn against Deed for his indiscretion with a claimant; during an embezzlement trial Jo hears allegations of a government minister taking bribes to accept false billing on defence contracts.