Michael Culkin

A passionate young barrister leads a legal revolution in this superb new courtroom drama set in 18th-century England. Appalled by the corruption of London's Old Bailey, William Garrow (Andrew Buchan, Cranford, The Fixer) advocates for the accused and pioneers the art of cross-examination, paving the way for our modern legal system. Aided by his mentor (Alun Armstrong, Little Dorrit, New Tricks) and the beautiful Lady Sarah Hill (Lyndsey Marshal, Being Human, The Hours), he faces down ruthless bounty hunters; callous judges; smug solicitors; and M.P. Sir Arthur Hill (Rupert Graves, The Forsyte Saga), who sees Garrow as a threat to the law--and his marriage. Based on a true story and drawing on actual Old Bailey court records, this award-winning series follows Garrow as he argues his first cases, rails against outdated legal practices, and shows that one man can indeed change everything.

When 133 Africans are thrown off a slave ship and drowned, Garrow is hired to prosecute the ship's captain--for fraud, not murder, since slaves are considered cargo. Meanwhile, Sir Arthur Hill begins legal proceedings against Garrow.

The Royal Hospital at Greenwich has a duty to care for disabled sailors. Instead, men are starved, mistreated, and left to die. When a man speaks out against the abuse, he is prosecuted for malicious libel--and Garrow is charged with defending him.

Garrow scandalizes fashionable London when he's charged with adultery. Still, he looks for comfort from Lady Sarah after losing a case in which a young boy is hanged. Southouse uncovers a secret that could compromise Sir Arthur, but a crucial witness refuses to testify.