By Stephen Anderson

The opportunity to have lunch with venerable Cook County assistant public defender Marijane Placek was well worth the $400 that three John Marshall Law School students paid for the privilege.

Bidding that amount in a public interest law charity auction last February, the participating law students voted nine to one in favor of breaking bread with a public defender, rather than an assistant state’s attorney.

“The Marijane lunch killed them,” said Adam Snyder, one of the students who organized the auction. “She’s exceptionally proud of that.”

The lunch took place Aug. 22 at an Italian restaurant near the Criminal Courts Building. Two of the bid-winning students took part, while the third was traveling out of the country.

The auction raised $15,000 for John Marshall scholarship programs in support of students who express interests in pursuing careers in public interest law.

Placek said she intended to ask the students why they were in law school, and whether they thought they were worthy of joining the profession. She also extolled “the absolute advantages” of public defender practice.

A member of the Homicide Task Force, Placek figured prominently in the book, “Defending the Damned,” by Kevin Davis, that was reviewed last September in the ISBA Bar News and will be released in paperback this fall.

The review by Bar News editor Stephen Anderson described the attributes that identify her as a successful litigator in criminal court. A portion follows.

“A complex character in every respect, in and out of court, Placek’s personality and tactical demeanor get thorough scrutiny in a third chapter, ‘Anarchist Under Contract,’ that is devoted to who she was, where she’s been and what she has become.

“Without a doubt, Placek is the one person in creation you’d want on your side if you are ever accused of an odious crime. One senses she could make millions in a private criminal defense practice.

“But Placek’s overarching interest is what should be the public’s interest: seeing that ‘the damned’ get unflinching representation.”

Currently president of the West Suburban Bar Association, Marijane Placek is in the midst of an ambitious schedule of monthly meetings and special events.

Among them are a golf outing Sept. 29 at Oakbrook Hills, a luncheon and fashion show on Oct. 4 at the Carlisle in Lombard, a Judges Night on Nov. 6 at Riverside Country Club, and a Christmas party on Dec. 4 at the Clubhouse in Oak Brook.

In addition, Placek will speak on cross examination on Saturday, Oct. 4, during the Illinois Public Defender Association’s fall seminar at the Springfield Hilton Hotel.

WSBA dinners with speakers are planned at Morton’s Steakhouse in Westchester at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 23, and on Mondays, Oct. 20, Nov. 17, and Dec. 15. For reservations, call (708) 338-2662.