Alan Crane, a young hotshot attorney, takes the case of a black man, Thomas Gibson, who was arrested for killing two white police officers at a protest that escalated into an out-of-control riot. Alan soon realizes that Thomas is innocent, but everybody in the town is out for blood and throwing everything they can at Alan to devastate his case so Thomas gets convicted and sentenced to death. As Alan gives his closing argument he is reminded of a sobering fact: this is literally the last moment to save the life of Thomas Gibson.