It's the post-Civil War era in the West Texas town of Vinegaroon. Saloon owner Roy Bean is the official unofficial judiciary - hence he being called "Judge" despite not legally being one - the kangaroo courts over which he presides held in the saloon administering his brand of justice, namely hanging those going against the cattlemen. As such, he views the recent influx of homesteaders, whose use of the land is incompatible with the cattlemen, as the enemy. One defendant in his court, Cole Harden who is solely passing through on his way to California, seems destined for the noose despite being innocent of the charge of stealing a horse. However, Cole is able not only to save himself but befriend the Judge by falsely claiming that he personally knows performer Lily Langtry with who the Judge is infatuated. On the issue the source of all the conflict in the region, Cole can see both sides and believes they all can somehow live in harmony if they only talk to each other rather than have the Judge do the cattlemen's dirty work. While he largely learns of the cattlemen's side of the issue through the Judge, Cole learns of the homesteaders' side largely from one of their own, strong-willed Jane Ellen Mathews, with who he falls in love. When the conflict reaches a new height, Cole has to decide where he falls on the issue, which may be answered by finding out the instigator of the rise in temperature.—Huggo