James Ragan (Pat O'Brien), a brilliant criminal lawyer is fed up with his lucrative practice and longs to retire to a quiet judgeship, but his reputation for legal, if not always ethical, courtroom tricks sidetracks his desire and he continues with his chosen profession. After several exciting and episodic cases, requiring all his talents, including defending his personal bodyguard, "Moose" Hendrcks (Mike Mazurki) on a murder charge, he eventually gets an appointment and becomes known as Judge Ragan.