Plot

When the son of an African American judge is murdered in a routine pull-over gone wrong, Judge Charles Coleman takes the law into his own hands to ensure justice is had when the two cops walk free.

When the son of a successful judge (Taye Diggs) is killed by two police officers (Luke Hemsworth/Gianni Capaldi) and the system sets them free, a hardened veteran detective (John Cusack) finds some incriminating files on the officers and the judge teams up with another mourning father (George Lopez) to take the law into his own hands.

The son of a successful African American judge Charles Coleman, Sr (Taye Diggs) is killed by two police officers Von (Luke Hemsworth) & Rory (Gianni Capaldi), but the system sets them free.

Charles took night classes to complete his law school studies, while working day shifts, to ultimately become a judge. Charles always told his son that Muhammed Ali was his role model as he stood for what he believed in, no matter what it cost him on what he had already earned in money and in respect. Charles and CJ are good friends and share a very healthy relationship based on mutual respect.

CJ is Charles's adult son (he is 23 years old) and is going to work on his first day at his job when Von and Rory are on patrol duty. Rory is racist and thinks CJ flipped him while passing by at an intersection, but CJ had only made a victory sign at Rory, but it looked like CJ's middle finger due to the reflection from the car window. Rory stops the car and shoots at CJ when he thinks CJ is pulling out a gun (it was his license). All they find is an appointment letter from the Police Academy, where CJ was headed for his first day as a trainee.

There was no gun, and Rory plants a gun in CJ's car to prove his case. Von is a good man and feels a lot of guilt about shooting an innocent civilian.

Charles has the reputation of being slightly soft on African American criminals. His Chinese wife Marilyn (Briana Evigan) (who is also a police officer) loves them both dearly and Charles has a second son with her. Charles is devastated at losing CJ. Marilyn decides to quit her job as she cannot work for the same people who shot their son. Charles says that he cannot quit as he is the only African American judge in town, and if he quits, it will be a blow to the entire African American community.

Von confronts Rory about his upcoming testimony at the inquiry. Rory argues that the deed is done, and nothing will bring CJ back. And if CJ did have a gun, what Rory did was only to save Von's life. At the inquiry, Von lies and both Von and Rory are released. Charles is convinced that CJ never had a gun. Rory and Von refuses to apologize to Charles who was also attending the inquiry. Rory says that he will never apologize for doing his job.

A hardened veteran detective Horace (John Cusack) finds some incriminating files on the officers and the judge teams up with another mourning father Javier (George Lopez) to take the law into his own hands. Horace is sympathetic to the judge since Charles protected him when Horace was in the field back in the day. Charles got Javier's name from the files that Horace got access to.

Charles meets Javier, who tells him about how Von and Rory shot his son as well. Javier has buried the memories of his loss, but talking to Charles makes him believe that there is hope for justice. Both Charles and Javier prepare for the fight and the struggles lying before them.

Charles uncovers a history of unlawful violence against the 2 officers. He aggregates witnesses, with which he hopes to sue the police department. Charles wants Javier to sue the city, as he cannot do so himself. If he sues the city, he will be removed as a judge for the duration of the trial. Charles feels he can do better while he is on the judge bench.

The media picks up the reports that CJ was carrying a gun when shot and is branded a criminal in the eyes of the public. The media declares that CJ deserved to be killed. Marilyn wants Charles to do something and get justice for CJ. Charles found that Rory used the same gun at many different crime scenes to implicate his victims. He takes the evidence to the town Mayor, who dismisses Charles. The Mayor says that these are simply same model guns with their serial numbers filed off. Charles also says that the gun was never tested for CJ's prints.

Von admits the truth to his wife, who wants him to come clean. Von defends his action saying that he was only protecting his own family.

Charles knows that there is no justice for African Americans in the town. He decides to take the law in his own hands. Charles show footage of Javier's son being shot (which Charles got from Horace) to him. Charles tells Javier that even his son did not have a gun on him and was shot in cold blood. Charles teams up with Javier to scare Rory and to extract a confession out of him. The mission goes wrong when Rory attacks both and Charles has to shoot Rory in self-defense after Rory admits he shot CJ.

Horace finds evidence that Charles was involved in Rory's killing. A police circular goes out identifying Charles and Javier as suspects. By the time Charles reaches Von, he has police protection. Charles attacks and gets Von alone. Von admits that CJ didn't have a weapon and is sorry for what happened. But Charles can't forgive him and shoots him.

Charles and Javier are shot down by the police.