Fred MacMurray is the beleagured hero of the Universal western Day of the Badman. MacMurray plays circuit judge Jim Scott, who rides into town to pass sentence on convicted killer Jake Hayes (Lee Van Cleef). Unfortunately, it doesn't look as though Hayes will stay in jail long enough for the trial: the town's sheriff (John Ericson) is an ineffectual weakling, willing to bend to the wishes of the killer's powerful father Charlie Hayes (Robert Middleton). The elder Hayes demands that his son merely be "banished" from town, and to that end he terrorizes the townsfolk into honoring his wishes. But Hayes hasn't reckoned with Judge Scott, who is not so easily bullied and cowed. The judge passes a sentence of death--and he's well equipped to mete out that punishment himself!