What is like to defend one of America’s most notorious serial killers? In 1979, having just left the Illinois Office of the Public Defender to open his own practice, Sam L. Amirante was retained to defend John Wayne Gacy, who was charged with the horrific murders of 33 teenage boys and young men. In a recently published book, John Wayne Gacy: Defending a Monster, Amirante and co-author Danny Broderick, who is also a lawyer, tell the story of Gacy’s defense and trial.

The two authors are our guests this week on the legal-affairs podcast Lawyer2Lawyer. Amirante — who went on to become a judge in Illinois and is now back in private practice — and Broderick discuss their book, the case, and why they would not hesitate to take on the defense of anyone charged with a heinous crime.

Listen to or download the show at the Legal Talk Network.

Photo of Bob Ambrogi Bob Ambrogi

Bob is a lawyer, veteran legal journalist, and award-winning blogger and podcaster. In 2011, he was named to the inaugural Fastcase 50, honoring “the law’s smartest, most courageous innovators, techies, visionaries and leaders.” Earlier in his career, he was editor-in-chief of several legal publications, including The National Law Journal, and editorial director of ALM’s Litigation Services Division.