It's the election year of 1916, and Miss Kopp's supervisor and defender, Sheriff Heath, can't be re-elected for another term. His ambitious wife has him running for senate, and is worried that the controversial Lady Deputy will ruin his chances. And it's not at all certain that the incoming sheriff wants a lady cop at all. Miss Kopp's priorities, however, are justice and her family, in that order- and justice for the women under her jurisdiction is greatly challenged by laws that give husbands and fathers control of their lives. Miss Kopp tackles a tricky case of a female asylum patient who isn't as she seems while trying to avoid the scathing eye of political opponents.