H.T. Smith discusses what it means to be a criminal defense lawyer in the context of an unspeakably grisly first-degree murder case in which his client, Aubrey Arthur Livingston, was accused of participating in the killing of five people, including two small children.

Smith tried the case before a Broward County (FL) judge who appeared to be looking forward to sending Smith's client to "Old Sparky," the electric chair in Florida used to inflict the ultimate punishment. Smith fought two trials and an appeal all the way to the Florida Supreme Court as the only barrier between his client and electrocution.