Reuben Ortozo is four feet two inches tall, but he doesn't let that stop him. The appellate courtroom that he presides in sells decisions as if they had been placed on an online auction site. The California Supreme Court has to review enough of the bought decisions, and the corruption becomes obvious.

The judges don't want to turn the appellate division in because they upheld many of the decisions. The Chief Judge connives to force an honest judge off the bench after planting the idea of nominating Reuben Ortotzo in the mind of California's governor, Brian Bryan.

After being seated on the court it becomes apparent that Reuben is still doing business with his former collegues, and becoming a sore spot for his fellow colleagues who now feel a need to protect him, so that they can protect the court's reputation. The Chief Justice attempts to persuade Reuben to change his ways, but Reuben reminds him that the court protects their own, and he's one of their own.

With no alternatives the court finds Reuben Ortotzo guilty in absentia, and sentences him to death with special circumstances. They hire a hit man to carry out the sentence.