Ep 10. A Higher Law

Bull season 3 episode 10, titled "A Higher Law," follows the TAC team as they support the defense of a Catholic priest who is accused of a woman's murder. The priest claims he is innocent, and a man of God could never harm someone. As Bull dives deeper into the case, he discovers a web of secrets that could exonerate the priest or implicate him further.

The episode begins with the murder of a beloved community member, a young woman named Hannah, who was a frequent volunteer at her church. Suspicion falls on the parish priest, Father Tom, who was last seen with Hannah before she was murdered. Despite his protestations of innocence and his tight alibi, the evidence against him seems damning. His DNA is found at the scene, and he has a motive for the crime: Hannah had been pushing to have him removed from the church.

Bull and his team take on the case, looking for any evidence that could help clear Father Tom's name. They meet with the parishioners, trying to uncover any secrets that anyone might be hiding. The TAC team also present to the jury a memory expert who could attest to the reliability of eyewitness testimony. Bull also presents the philosophy of "A Higher Law," which argues that people of faith are held to a higher standard. It emphasizes an ethical and moral bar which is above the criminal laws.

As they investigate the case further, Bull and his team discover that there's more to the story. They learn of another suspect who had returned to town around the same time as the murder, and who had been trying to contact Hannah. He had a history of violence towards women, but the police had overlooked him due to their tunnel vision towards Father Tom.

Bull also finds evidence that the local police might have withheld some crucial information, putting Father Tom at a disadvantage. The TAC team pushes to have key evidence suppressed, arguing that the police's actions tainted the investigation and resulting evidence.

As the trial progresses, Bull's team must also grapple with their own beliefs. They find themselves sympathizing with the priest, wanting him to be innocent, but also acknowledging that their duty is to the truth, no matter how hard that may be. They're forced to confront their own biases, recognizing that their own faith and beliefs could be influencing their view of this case.

As the trial comes to a close, Bull presents a compelling argument to the jury that implicates the other suspect as the true killer. He also challenges the parishioners and community to look beyond their initial impressions and see the priest for who he is, not just the accusations against him.

Overall, "A Higher Law" is a thought-provoking episode that examines the role of faith and justice, and it challenges viewers to consider how our beliefs and prejudices affect our decisions. Bull and his team lead a complex defense that goes beyond the facts and the law, forcing everyone involved to ask themselves hard questions about what's truly just, right and moral.