JUDICIAL SOUP examines the need for criminal justice reforms through a case in which an innocent person was found guilty of a crime he did not commit.

The story is simple, yet the judicial process evolved into a complex event. It is a crime story that featured too many players, some with individual motives, shoddy police work, prosecutors who would say anything to win, and a judge who seemed to ignore evidence that did not fit his mental model of the case. If this were a novel, no one would believe it. 

The book addresses the larger need for criminal justice reform through summaries of other cases presented in between chapters. These cases highlight problems with witnesses, physical evidence, and individual misconduct. The case summaries emphasize a broader perspective, informing the reader that the reported case in "Judicial Soup" is not uncommon.