Judge John Deed (2001-2007) is a British legal drama.

Martin Shaw plays Judge John Deed, a High Court judge who is determined to seek justice in the cases set before him. He is often hampered by political players who want to protect the interests of the nation and/or big business.

In Series 1, Episode 5, John Deed discovers to his amazement that he was adopted as a baby. In the same episode there is another child protection story in which a woman has a baby removed because she won’t permit the child – not biologically hers – to have a test for HIV.

Adoption is not mentioned again until Season 2, Episode 6 when Deed goes into therapy. There is an attempt to blame his womanising on him being adopted.

From Series 2, Episode 8 a discussion begins about barrister Jo Mills (Jenny Seagrove), Deed’s long term love interest, adopting the son of a client who has died.

The dominant story in Series 3, Episode 3 is that of a 13-year-old adoptee being accused of raping his teacher. The Council is alleged to have not provided a full report on the boy’s background to the adoptive parents. Another story in the same episode is that of a man who was sexually abused as a child – at home and in ‘care’ – killing a paedophile in prison to prevent him abusing others on his release.

Series 4, Episode 1 has an accused who has spent 24 of his 29 years in some sort of institution.

Series 4, Episode 3 also has a convicted youth who was in the care of the state.