The staff of a Manhattan arraignment court is surprised by the arrival of a maverick young judge named Harry Stone; his first ruling, that a feuding couple should go to dinner with the attorneys, results in a fight breaking out that injures Dan.

Harry must deal with a pair of volatile teenage runaways and an old man who believes he's the real Santa Claus.

An office bet over what Harry's true age is leads to the discovery that he has a criminal record.

Harry's "missing" Mother and a beauty pageant operator appear in court.

Bull feels misunderstood and quits in anger; a blind shoplifter awaiting trial keeps trying to give his police handler the slip.

A rock is thrown through the courtroom window, with a death threat in Harry's name.

A smitten prostitute waits for Harry in his chambers.

Dan and Bull are at odds over the same woman; Harry throws his cap into the ring when he realizes the woman has a spare ticket for a Mel Torme concert.

Lana starts acting crazy after overdosing on some medications.

A Russian immigrant threatens to set himself, and the courtroom, on fire.

Harry's relationship with a rock star leads to the courtroom being overrun by her fans.

Bull is a walking zombie at work, and the court staff finds that he has been taking care of a baby for a neighbor who has apparently abandoned him.

A woman must choose between her two husbands, one of whom was thought killed in Vietnam.