Deputy Police Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson is a police detective who transfers from Atlanta to Los Angeles to head up a special unit of the LAPD that handles sensitive, high-profile murder cases. Despite a tendency to step on people's toes, Johnson manages to convert even her strongest adversaries with her unique ability to get to the truth.
As the new boss, McDonnell's Captain Sharon Raydor is determined to lead the department with a more team-oriented approach, sharing the credit with the people with whom she works. The show focuses on how the American justice system approaches the art of the deal as law enforcement officers and prosecutors work together to score a conviction.