On a cold day in January President Kerry Kilcannon takes the oath of office-- and within days makes his first， most important move: appointing a new Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. Kilcannon s choice is a female judge with a brilliant record. And a secret. While the Senate spars over Caroline Masters nomination， an inflammatory abortion rights case is making its way toward the judge--and will explode into the headlines. Suddenly， the most divisive issue in America turns the President s nomination into all-out war. And from Judge Masters to a conservative， war-hero senator facing a crisis of conscience and a fifteen-year-old girl battling for her future， no one will be safe. Protect and Defend takes us on a riveting journey between what is legal， what is right . . . and the price of finally knowing the difference.