Judge John Deed

James Brooklands is charged with the death of a woman and her two children whom he struck with his car. Brooklands was using his mobile phone at the time and didn't have a valid driver's license. His barristers now argue that their client has had a complete mental breakdown and is unable to proceed with his defense. Sitting in the Civil Court, Deed finds himself hearing a case where Jo Mills and and his ex-wife Georgina Channing are the opposing barristers. The case involves a brain tumor patient who is suing her cellphone company. The government is very concerned at the effect this could have on industry and Deed finds himself under great pressure to recuse himself. Deed also finds himself having to deal with a new presiding judge, Monty Everard, with whom he has clashed in the past. Everard, he learns, will be presiding at Jo Mills' disciplinary hearing.

Although Jo Mills has been absolved of any accusations of misconduct, Sir Ian Rochester and some of Deed's fellow judges now decide to marginalize both of them. Mills finds herself being taken off certain prosecutions and is subsequently informed by her head of Chambers that the Prosecution Service may drop her entirely. Deed is pressured into giving up the case of James Brooklands, the businessman who killed two young children and their mother with his car. Judge Everard takes on the case and sentences him to time served. A furious Judge Deed publicly accuses Everard and Rochester of misconduct. In court, Deed presides over the case of Jan Dobbs who has been charged with murdering her husband. Her husband was unstable and he had stopped taking his medication but the question is whether she and her son may have had an altogether different motive.

Judge Deed hears the case against a sitting Member of Parliament, Alan Roxborough, who is accused of the attempted murder of his one-time male lover as he tried to recover indiscreet letters he sent to him. Jo Mills is slowly getting into the government's good books and is asked to prosecute the case. Deed's good friend Row Colemore, who is fast approaching retirement, tells him that he has concerns about the quality of police evidence. Both Deed and Mills soon realize however that there seems to be a conspiracy underway to ensure an acquittal in the case. Deed continues his psychotherapy as he attempts to deal with his inability to form lasting relationships with women. He relationship with his therapist however takes an interesting turn.

Judge Deed begins hearing the case of Diana Hulsey, the mobile phone user who is suing her service provider for contributing to a brain tumor she has now developed. The CEO of the telecoms firm is outraged that her court action has gone this far and is pressuring the government and especially the Lord Chancellor's Department, to get Judge Deed under control. He also makes it quite clear that if they cannot do so, he is prepared to take matters into his own hands. When judge Deed finds that someone has put child pornography on his laptop computer, he knows who must be responsible but also realizes that it is exactly the kind of reputation-destroying information that could see him put off the Bench.