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Sebastian is a cynical street lawyer who operates out of a fortified Ford cargo van instead of a traditional office. Heavily armed and frequently targeted by death threats, he takes on clients other attorneys refuse to defend. He holds a deep-seated belief that the American justice system is rigged against the innocent, prompting him to utilize unorthodox legal tactics to level the playing field.
Employer of Partner
Ex-husband of Judith Whitly
Father of Starcher Rudd
Defense attorney for Gardy Baker
Defense attorney for Doug Renfro
Defense attorney for Link Scanlon
Financial backer of Tadeo Zapate
Prospective lawyer for Arch Swanger
Romantic interest of Naomi Tarrant
Partner is a heavily armed driver who also serves as Sebastian's bodyguard, paralegal, and only true friend. A former mixed martial arts fighter, he maintains a stoic demeanor and communicates primarily through action. His absolute loyalty to Sebastian stems from the lawyer previously securing his acquittal in a high-stakes criminal trial.
Judith is a highly successful attorney at an all-female law firm and Sebastian's fiercely adversarial ex-wife. She despises his dangerous lifestyle and constantly worries about its impact on their child. Their brief marriage ended bitterly, leaving her determined to strictly control Sebastian's visitation rights through the legal system.
Ex-wife of Sebastian Rudd
Mother of Starcher Rudd
Link is a powerful mob boss currently sitting on death row for ordering the murder of a judge. A ruthless criminal who built a massive empire from the streets, he continues to run his syndicate from behind bars and commands enough resources to openly challenge the state's authority.
Client of Sebastian Rudd
Employer of Fango
Starcher is the seven-year-old son of Sebastian and Judith. Caught in the middle of his parents' bitter animosity, he lives with his mother and sees his father during highly regulated visits. He struggles to navigate the conflicting instructions and warnings provided by his warring parents.
Gardy is an 18-year-old with an intellectual disability who faces a capital murder trial in Milo. With dyed black hair and multiple piercings, his gothic appearance makes him a prime target for a community eager to secure a conviction. He possesses a childlike curiosity but suffers intensely under the conditions of his imprisonment.
Client of Sebastian Rudd
Prosecuted by Dan Huver
Judged by Judge Kaufman
Falsely accused instead of Jack Peeley
Doug is an elderly Army veteran living a quiet life in the suburbs until a catastrophic police raid destroys his home. The grieving retiree finds himself thrust into a nightmare of aggressive police cover-ups and intense legal battles, fighting to clear his name after defending his property.
Tadeo is an aggressive mixed martial arts fighter with roots in gang life. He channels his fierce spirit into the cage, where his raw physical talent is financially backed by Sebastian Rudd. His volatile temper makes him a formidable opponent but poses a significant risk to his career trajectory.
Arch is a manipulative drifter who holds a petty criminal history. He emerges as the prime suspect in a high-profile abduction case. He is cunning and elusive, seeking legal representation not for a standard defense but to play dangerous psychological games with law enforcement.
Huver is the ambitious local prosecutor handling the Gardy Baker case in Milo. Driven by public outrage and the political benefits of a swift conviction, he aggressively pursues the death penalty while relying on questionable witnesses and manufactured theories.
Judge Kaufman is a local judge who is heavily influenced by public opinion and his own desire for reelection. He actively clears a path for the prosecution during court proceedings, denying defense motions and allowing inflammatory testimony to sway the jury.
Roy is the Assistant Chief of Police and a desperate father searching for his abducted daughter. His profound grief and high-ranking position within the department drive him to push the boundaries of law enforcement in his relentless quest for answers.
Lieutenant Sumerall is the commander of the city's SWAT team. Cocky and aggressive, he relies on excessive force and heavy combat gear, treating civilian neighborhoods like hostile war zones and bringing immense liability to his department.
Miguel is Tadeo's brother and a member of a local street gang. He is fiercely protective of his family and willing to use his street connections to solve problems outside the boundaries of the law.
Brother of Tadeo Zapate
Associate of Sebastian Rudd
Naomi is Starcher's elementary school teacher. After a parent-teacher conference regarding a schoolyard scuffle, she develops an unexpected mutual attraction with Sebastian, bonding over their shared frustrations with his ex-wife.
Teacher of Starcher Rudd
Romantic interest of Sebastian Rudd
Jiliana is the adult daughter of the Assistant Chief of Police. Her unsolved disappearance haunts the city and drives the police department to desperate lengths to secure her safe return.
Daughter of Roy Kemp
Suspected victim of Arch Swanger
Reardon is considered the department's best homicide detective. He navigates the difficult space between standard police procedure and the intense internal pressure generated by the abduction of a superior officer's daughter.
Subordinate to Roy Kemp
Police contact of Sebastian Rudd
Nate is a police officer who serves as a confidential source for Sebastian Rudd. He provides the rogue lawyer with inside information about department operations, personnel, and internal politics.
Informant for Sebastian Rudd
Nicknamed "The Bishop," Jimmy is a local criminal defense lawyer who keeps his ear to the ground. He acts as a vital conduit of street-level rumors and unofficial tips for Sebastian's legal team.
Professional contact of Sebastian Rudd
Informant for Partner
Jack is a rough individual and the ex-boyfriend of the mother whose two young girls were murdered. Despite being the last person seen near the victims, he was initially overlooked by local police eager to build a case against someone else.
Alternate suspect to Gardy Baker
Katherine "Kitty" Renfro is Doug's wife of many years. Her sudden and violent death during a botched SWAT raid shatters her family and sets off a massive legal battle against the city.
Wife of Doug Renfro
Mother of Thomas
Thomas is the adult son of Doug and Kitty Renfro. Reeling from the sudden violence inflicted on his parents, he relies on Sebastian to navigate the legal fallout of the tragic police raid.
Also known as Tubby Fango, he is a blunt enforcer for the incarcerated mobster Link Scanlon. He is tasked with intimidating Sebastian into returning his boss's substantial legal fees.
Subordinate to Link Scanlon
Antagonizes Sebastian Rudd
Jameel is Partner's 19-year-old son. He is currently serving a harsh 10-year prison sentence for a nonviolent marijuana offense, a punishment his father suspects was exacted as revenge by the legal system.
Son of Partner
Grandson of Miss Luella
Max is the city's chief prosecutor. A confident and politically sensitive official, he carefully manages his department's public image, steering clear of controversial trials when possible while ruthlessly pursuing high-profile convictions in the courtroom.
Legal opponent of Sebastian Rudd
Prosecutor of Tadeo Zapate
Keestler is a member of the city's heavily militarized SWAT team. Wearing black war paint and combat gear, he participates in the aggressive raid that results in tragedy, exposing the combative mindset of his unit.
Subordinate to Chip Sumerall
Shot by Doug Renfro
Smut is a professional jailhouse snitch used by the Milo prosecutors. He provides fabricated testimony claiming to have overheard a confession, representing the corrupt lengths to which the state goes to secure convictions.
Testifies against Gardy Baker
Utilized by Dan Huver
Miss Luella is Partner's mother. Living in a housing project, she operates as an unofficial receptionist for Sebastian's unconventional law practice, answering his dedicated phone line and guarding his highly sensitive files.
Judge Fabineau is the pragmatic judge presiding over Tadeo Zapate's criminal trial. She remains willing to entertain backroom deals and coordinate with city officials to efficiently resolve complex, highly publicized cases.
Judge of Tadeo Zapate
Professional contact of Sebastian Rudd