The film stars Viola Davis as a judge who presides over the custody case of a Latina woman named Sara (Catalina Sandino Moreno) whose children are taken away after an episode of domestic violence.

[1] Hayden Panettiere plays the lawyer given Sara's case,[2] with Ellen Burstyn, Selenis Leyva, Olga Merediz, Dan Fogler, Raúl Esparza, and Tony Shalhoub in other roles.

On the next day, David's teacher notices his bruise and sends him to the school infirmary, which prompts the principal to summon ACS agent Luis Sanjuro, who questions Tia about the events of the previous night and takes both children to institutional care.

Her case is assigned to Martha Schulman, a black judge suffering from empty nest syndrome after her son Elliot goes to college, and Sara learns she'll be represented by Alexandra 'Ally' Fisher, a top-of-the-class but inexperienced young attorney appointed to her pro bono.

In the first hearing, due to a highly-publicized error that led to the death of a 5-year old girl, the ACS is reluctant to recommend Tia and David's return home as consuelor Keith Denholz request for Sara to undergo a drug test, with which she complies; however, the case is further complicated during a second hearing when the results are positive for marijuana and PCP and Sara loses her temper at the courtroom, prompting Martha to send the children to a temporary foster care and suggest her anger management therapy.