Hank Palmer is a trial lawyer in
Chicago, acerbic and notorious for defending powerful clients he knows to be guilty. Before returning to his rural hometown of Carlinville,
Indiana to attend his mother's funeral, he argues with his wife, Lisa, whom he is divorcing for infidelity. In Carlinville, Hank reunites with his older brother Glen, a tire shop owner, and his younger brother Dale, an
intellectually disabled amateur filmmaker. Hank's father is Judge Joseph Palmer of Carlinville's criminal court, whom he calls "Judge". The two have been estranged due to the Judge's harsh treatment of Hank in his youth: When Hank was a teenager, he got into a car accident and Glen was injured, losing a chance for a baseball career. Because of this, the Judge sent Hank to
juvenile detention. Hank stops by the courthouse to watch his father preside over a case. During the proceedings, the Judge is unable to recall his long-time
bailiff's name. The morning after the funeral, Hank notices that the Judge's Cadillac is damaged and accuses his father, a recovered alcoholic, of driving intoxicated. The Judge reacts defensively, having no memory of an accident. They argue and Hank leaves for the airport, vowing never to return to Carlinville. Just before his flight is to take off, Glen calls to say that their father is a suspect in a fatal
hit-and-run incident. The victim, Mark Blackwell, was a recently released ex-convict whom the Judge had sentenced to 20 years in prison for the murder of his 16-year-old girlfriend; Blackwell had killed her by drowning after the Judge had given him a light sentence of 30 days for shooting up the girl's house. The Judge is
indicted after police forensics confirm that Blackwell's blood is on his car. Given his personal history with the victim, he is charged with
first-degree murder. The Judge initially rejects Hank's legal help, but when his hired local attorney proves ineffective at the preliminary hearing, he allows Hank to take over as lead counsel. While preparing for trial, Hank learns that his father is secretly undergoing
chemotherapy for terminal cancer, which has
affected his mental acuity for months. Hank wants to use this information to get his father
acquitted, but fearing it will compromise his past adjudications and tarnish his legacy, the Judge refuses, frustrating Hank. During his prolonged stay, Hank and his father continue to get into personal clashes. Hank's strained family relationship is further complicated by his former girlfriend, Sam Powell, who owns the local diner. He comes to believe that he may be the father of Sam's daughter Carla, a law student. During this time, Hank's own daughter Lauren arrives for a visit, meeting her grandfather for the first time and bonding with him. After a medical emergency puts him in the hospital, the Judge insists on testifying at the trial. During cross-examination he scuttles his defense by saying that he cannot remember the hit-and-run but believes he may have killed Blackwell intentionally, shocking the court. Taking over on redirect, Hank pushes the Judge until he admits to his terminal cancer treatment; the Judge further reveals that Blackwell had
insulted his late wife on the fateful night, and that he gave Blackwell a light sentence for his first offense because Blackwell's circumstances had reminded the Judge of Hank. Hank closes by demonstrating that, as before, the Judge cannot remember his own bailiff's name. As they await the jury's verdict, Sam informs Hank that his brother Glen is Carla's father but does not know; Sam slept with him after Hank left town twenty years before. Hank is angered by the revelation, but the two reaffirm their love for each other and embrace. When the court reconvenes, the Judge is acquitted of first-degree murder but convicted of
voluntary manslaughter and sentenced to four years in the
Indiana State Prison. Seven months later, Hank returns as his father has been granted a
compassionate release, requested by the prosecutor, to allow him to die at home. Fishing on a lake, Hank and the Judge appear to have buried their mutual animosity. After praising Hank as a lawyer, the Judge peacefully dies on the boat. The courthouse flag is flown at half-staff to honor him. Hank visits the courthouse and spins his father's chair; it stops, facing him. ==Cast==