last moment, Castle returns and, using his influence on Angel's mother, threatens Castle with removal unless Angel testifies. Blake realizes that Castle wants the teen subjected to a harsh cross-examination that will ensure his conviction and execution; he then will be a martyr, and Castle will be able to use the case as a fundraising tool for the Communist Party. Blake remains on the case, but the cross-examination goes as poorly as feared. Chavez is found guilty, and as the jury did not suggest leniency, the death penalty will be automatic. Castle then does have Blake fired to keep him from speaking during sentencing, but he arrives anyway and requests and receives amicus status. Blake now says that, because the charge of murder was based on a technicality, it is appropriate for the judge to apply another technicality, Chavez's status as a minor, in sentencing. Instead of being hanged, the boy can simply be sent to reform school. When the prosecutor agrees that this would be fair, the African-American judge (Juano Hernandez) accepts the suggestion. He then sentences Castle, who has tried to race-bait him during Blake's argument, to 30 days in jail for contempt. Blake and Abbe Nyle leave the court together. Cast Glenn Ford as David Blake Dorothy McGuire as Abbe Nyle Arthur Kennedy as Barney Castle John Hodiak as District Attorney Armstrong Katy Jurado as Mrs. Chavez Rafael Campos as Angel Chavez Juano Hernandez as Judge Theodore Motley Robert Middleton as A.A. 'Fats' Sanders John Hoyt as Ralph Castillo Paul Guilfoyle as Cap Grant Elisha Cook Jr. as Finn Ann Lee as Gail Wiltse Whit Bissell as Sam Wiltse Richard Gaines as Dr. Johannes Albert Schacter Barry Kelley as Jim Brackett Eddie Baker as Electrician (uncredited) Rodney Bell as Lew Bardman (uncredited) Robert Bice as Abbott (uncredited) Frank Cady as Canford (uncredited) Hal K. Dawson as Nervous Man (uncredited) Charles Evans as Lawyer #1 (uncredited) Frank Ferguson as Kiley (uncredited) Joe Flynn as Speakers Bureau (uncredited) Leonard Freeman as Reporter (uncredited) Everett Glass as George - Law School Dean (uncredited) Dorothy Green as Mrs. Mary Ackerman (uncredited) Percy Helton as Youval (uncredited) Natalie Masters as Rally Chairman (uncredited) John Maxwell as Benedict (uncredited) Philo McCullough as Prospective Juror (uncredited) Mort Mills as Reporter (uncredited) Grandon Rhodes as Prof. Terry Bliss (uncredited) Charles Tannen as Bailiff (uncredited) Frank Wilcox as Lawyer #2 (uncredited) Harry Wilson as Courtroom Spectator