不打官司好多年的哈佛大学法律系知名教授Paul Armstrong(Sean Connery)这日收到一封鸣冤信:佛罗里达州一名女孩被人绑架谋杀,警方将黑人大学生Bobby(Blair Underwood)视作凶手,并在缉拿后严刑逼供令其签字画押,前途光明的年轻人只因是黑人变作死囚。 Paul被信件打动,决定重出江湖为Bobby辩护。一番缜密调查,Paul找到足以还Bobby清白之躯的证据,但他没有想到,一切均系Bobby的精心策划,自己及家人才是他的真正目标。Bobby Earl is facing the electric chair for the murder of a young girl. Eight years after the crime he calls in Paul Armstrong, a professor of law, to help prove his innocence. Armstrong quickly uncovers some overlooked evidence to present to the local police, but they aren't interested - Bobby was their killer.