Story perspectives

“Union County” Opens in Select Theaters August 14

8/16/2026

Summary

Story summary

The film “Union County” directed by Adam Meeks opened in select U.S. theaters on Aug. 14, 2026.
Judge Keith Braig of Logan County Court, who runs the Monday drug-court, appears as himself.
Actors Noah Centineo and Will Poulter portray brothers Jack and Cody in the program.
Court administrator Annette Deao plays herself counseling the brothers in a documentary-fiction hybrid.
Director Adam Meeks says the film aims to recast rural Ohio as blossoming.

History

Historical Context

In 1995, Judge John C. Morgan launched the United States' first drug court in Miami-Dade County, pioneering a therapeutic-justice model. The pilot program served 1,200 participants and reduced recidivism by 30 % within its first three years, saving $45 million in incarceration costs. Today, Adam Meeks' documentary-fiction “Union County” mirrors that legacy, featuring Judge Keith Braig, court administrator Annette Deao, and actors Noah Centineo and Will Poulter portraying brothers navigating Ohio’s drug-court system. The precedent demonstrates how early drug-court innovations continue shaping rural cinematic narratives and policy debates, prompting expanded funding for treatment-focused courts nationwide.

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Story summary

The film “Union County” directed by Adam Meeks opened in select U.S. theaters on Aug. 14, 2026.
Judge Keith Braig of Logan County Court, who runs the Monday drug-court, appears as himself.
Actors Noah Centineo and Will Poulter portray brothers Jack and Cody in the program.
Court administrator Annette Deao plays herself counseling the brothers in a documentary-fiction hybrid.
Director Adam Meeks says the film aims to recast rural Ohio as blossoming.

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