A pacifist judge, advocating for justice in a capital case, provokes the ire of his CIA neighbor. As threats escalate to his family, he's thrown into a survival battle, revealing the grave price of defending the law.
When a Circuit Court Judge is shot, liberal Justice Edwin Burke is assigned the case as it goes to trial. In quick succession, it goes to trial, and he convicts and sentences the defendant to death. The defense counsel asks for a stay of execution. As usual, Ned (Edwin Burke) says he'll consider the request.
Ned's family comes under attack, and they move from gritty LA to the safe suburbs.
But Ned's new neighbor, Ray Klosey, a rogue CIA agent, attempts to influence the judge and his family by ingratiating himself as the execution date approaches. He plans to get close to Ned to make sure the execution does not go through.
He arranges a series of suspicious events that spook Ned and the family. He installs a compromised security system in his home, spies on the family, and then turns up the heat.
Ned finds his car scratched, his tires slashed, threatening phone messages and his windows broken. A bomb destroys their car. Klosey assures Ned he will help him find the guy.
At Ned's request, the family invites Klosey to dinner, whom it turns out is a gourmet chef. Klosey cooks for them, and they all get to know each other too well. Ned assures Klosey the public anger over the capital punishment decision will blow over.
Klosey watches Peg, Ned's wife, in the backyard pool. Then Klosey asks Peg to teach him how to do water aerobics. She pulls back, realizing there's an attraction. Klosey incites further public anger via radio and the press.
Unknown persons threaten the judge and his family. Suspicions are raised, Ned has the DA check with the FBI. His son gets a gun, then he gets an ultimatum calling for Graham's death within 48 hours, and is told to get in line. The DA informs Ned there is no FBI involvement, and then he gets killed in a staged car accident.
Klosey, almost discovered, kills the real estate agent in the house he is squatting in. Ned's young son finds the dead agent in Klosey's home next door. Ned uncovers a bug and phone tap in his home. He gets rid of the security equipment that Klosey had installed. The FBI doesn't seem very cooperative.
FBI agents brief Ned, but the family feuds about Graham as a threat. Prison officials put Graham in the gas chamber. Guards strap Graham for execution.
Klosey sets up the final battle in Ned's home, where he attacks them, and they must fight for their lives as Graham is losing his. Klosey had a diabolical plan to set Graham free because of the critical information he possessed.
