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The good fight: Lawyer takes a stand in 'Proven Innocent'

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Kyla Brewer / TV Media
Rachelle Lefevre stars in "Proven Innocent"

Rachelle Lefevre stars in "Proven Innocent"

In the criminal justice system, the accused is supposed to be innocent until proven guilty. However, each year men and women are convicted of crimes they didn't commit, and only a portion of them will be exonerated. A new drama takes a look at what happens when a falsely convicted woman is released and becomes a lawyer.

Rachelle Lefevre stars as Madeline Scott, a criminal defense lawyer determined to rectify such travesties of justice, in "Proven Innocent," premiering Friday, Feb. 15, on Fox. Canadian-born Lefevre rose to fame as vampire Victoria Sutherland  in the first two installments of the Twilight films, and made her mark on television with roles in the CBS dramas "A Gifted Man" and "Under the Dome."

She returns to prime time as Scott, who sets out to help those she believes have been wrongly convicted. At the age of 18, Scott and her brother, Levi (Riley Smith, "Drive"), were sent to jail for murder after a sensational case that made national headlines. Ten years later, she was exonerated of the crime and went on to study law so she could stand up for others who found themselves in the same situation.

While Scott is seen as a hero to some, not everyone has celebrated her release. The prosecutor who put her behind bars to begin with is still convinced of her guilt and wants to put her behind bars once again. The two often go toe to toe in the courtroom, and "Proven Innocent's" producers have snagged a top-notch talent to create on-screen tension with Lefevre. In June, headlines broke that television icon Kelsey Grammer ("Frasier") had taken over the role of prosecutor Gore Bellows from Brian d'Arcy James ("Smash"), who played the character in the pilot. Although no reason was officially given for the recasting, rumor has it that James may return to the series in a different role later in the season.

As it stands, "Proven Innocent" provides an opportunity for Grammer fans to catch the Emmy and Golden Globe winner in action once again, and the actor is pleased to tackle the new role.

"The subject matter is very timely and worth exploring; I am excited to be a part of that," Grammer said when news of his casting broke.

One of the most decorated actors in television history, Grammer rose to fame as Dr. Frasier Crane, a role he originated in the NBC sitcom "Cheers" in 1984 and then continued in his very own spinoff, "Frasier," until 2004. A string of short-lived television series and film and stage work followed until he landed the lead role as Chicago Mayor Tom Kane in the Starz drama "Boss," which earned him a 2012 Golden Globe.

His latest role once again showcases his serious side as a dramatic actor. A tough-on-crime state attorney, Bellows is convinced that Scott is guilty and hopes to one day put her back behind bars, where he thinks she belongs. All the while, Scott maintains her innocence while looking for the real murderer in her case.

Kelsey Grammer as seen in "Proven Innocent"

Kelsey Grammer as seen in "Proven Innocent"

Scott's allies in her emotional quest for justice include the man who helped secure her release, fellow lawyer Ezekiel "Easy" Boudreau, played by Russell Hornsby ("Grimm"). They work with investigator Bodie Quick (Vincent Kartheiser, "Mad Men"), who helps them reopen old cases and find evidence that may exonerate victims of the justice system. Communications director Violet Bell (Nikki M. James, "The Good Wife") follows up each of the team's investigations with a true-crime podcast to shed light on the case.

The cast also includes Clare O'Connor ("Chicago Med"), who portrays a young Madeline in flashbacks. Elaine Hendrix ("Inspector Gadget 2," 2003) recurs as Susan Andrews, a self-promoting TV personality with the potential to sway public opinion as to someone's guilt or innocence. "The Walking Dead" alum Laurie Holden plays opposite Grammer as Greta Bellows, the prosecutor's shrewd, politically ambitious wife. Caitlin Mehner ("The Blacklist") takes on the role of Scott's high school nemesis Heather Husband, while Tembi Locke ("Eureka") has signed on to play Boudreau's therapist, Vanessa Dale. Tiffany Dupont ("Greek") has landed a recurring role as police officer Nikki Russo, who has a complicated relationship with Quick. Catherine Lidstone ("Weeds") appears as Isabel Sanchez, a recent law school graduate, and Candice Coke ("Days of Our Lives") rounds out the recurring cast as a hardened female inmate known as Wren.

The show's behind-the-scenes team has been working to make the legal drama a winner since the production -- then titled "Infamy" -- earned a deal with Fox in 2017. Big screen scribe David Elliot created the legal drama and wrote the pilot episode. Elliot, who's known for his work on such films as the crime thriller "Four Brothers" (2005) and the action adventure "G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra" (2009), has teamed up with Emmy winner Danny Strong ("Empire") as executive producers of "Proven Innocent."

In their hard-hitting, ripped-from-the-headlines drama, Scott is a woman on a mission to right the wrongs of the past. She and her colleagues unearth new evidence as they work to overturn convictions in controversial cases in "Proven Innocent," premiering Friday, Feb. 15, on Fox.