Bates Motel star Vera Farmiga has signed on to star in The Judge for Warner Bros. and director David Dobkin.

Robert Downey Jr. stars as a big city lawyer who returns to his hometown for his mother's funeral, where he learns that his father (Robert Duvall), the local judge, is the prime suspect in her death. Vera Farmiga will play a waitress who never left the small town, and has a connection to the attorney's past. Vincent D'Onofrio also stars in the drama.

David Dobkin is directing from a screenplay by Nick Schenk (Gran Torino), with Robert Downey Jr. producing alongside his wife Susan Downey. Production will begin this June in Boston.

Aside from starring in A&E's Bates Motel, Vera Farmiga will next be seen in director James Wan's The Conjuring, opening in theaters nationwide July 19.