Illegal

Victor Scott (Edward G. Robinson) is a tough District Attorney who never loses a case. When he accidentally sends an innocent man to the electric chair he loses his grip and after long period of alcoholism he rebuilds a practice as a defense attorney. Struggling to get paying cases he negotiates an out-of-court settlement for an embezzler that worked for a company owned by Frank Garland (Albert Dekker) who is one of the biggest racketeers in the city. At first Scott resists Garland but discovers that many of his cases are related to this crook who has his finger in many pies. Scotts ability to win court cases makes the current District Attorney suspicious that he has a mole in the public office supplying inside information. Scott insists his skills as an attorney allow him to win his cases. When Scotts former assistant Ellen Miles (Nina Foch) is put on trial for murder Scott realizes that he will need to defend her and by extension defend Garland too, but he may have to sacrifice his career and possibly his life.