A former governor is murdered and his killer's trial is sensationalized in the media.

Young Paula Thornwall is murdered in her bedroom by her gardener, who escapes undetected. Because Paula's estranged husband is the nephew of the state governor, a politically ambitious district attorney, Dan Callahan, seizes the opportunity to file a charge of murder against the nephew. Presiding at the trial is Judge Hoffman, who, like Callahan, is interested in becoming governor. Another interested party is Sen. A. S. Simon, who believes that by becoming governor he can be assured of nomination for the Presidency. When one of Callahan's witnesses gives inadmissible evidence, the defense attorney, Marker, calls for a mistrial. Senator Simon has offered Hoffman a Federal Court judgeship for turning down just such a request, however, and the motion is denied. The trial continues, and Thornwall is found guilty. Hoffman now decides to jeopardize his career by making public Simon's bribe so that a new trial can be granted. Simon belittles the charge until he suffers a heart attack, whereupon he admits to the bribery and then dies. Though Hoffman obtains evidence of Callahan's tactics, he refuses to use it and retires from the gubernatorial race. Then the gardener confesses to the murder. Governor Thornwall and Simon's widow, Cathy, who at one time was Hoffman's mistress, seek out the judge at his mountain retreat and bring him to the nominating convention, which has reached a stalemate. Hoffman's last-minute dramatic appearance so electrifies the delegates that he is nominated by acclamation.