An audience of over 600 jurors found esteemed Athenian statesman Pericles “guilty” of subverting the rule of law in Athens on Wednesday night as the National Hellenic Museum’s Trial of Pericles revisited ancient history at Chicago’s Harris Theater. Nearly two thousand five hundred years after Pericles changed the Athenian Constitution in 451 BCE to restrict citizenship to those born to two Athenian parents, Pericles and his defense team faced prosecutors before a panel of three judges and 12 jurors, who reached an almost unanimous conclusion as to his guilt. When the votes of the audience were poured onto the scales of justice, Pericles was convicted. (In the actual history, Pericles died in the Great Plague of Athens and never faced trial for his actions.)
The mock trial April 17 featured compelling testimony from Pericles himself, played by Judge Paul Lillios (Ret.), and prosecution witness Olympia, a non-Athenian wife and mother in Athens, played by Judge Megan Goldish with emotion and humor. The successful prosecution team was led by Katerina Alexopoulos (U.S. Department of Homeland Security), Patrick M. Collins (King & Spalding LLP) and Tinos Diamantatos (Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP). Presenting the defense of Pericles were Sarah F. King (Clifford Law Offices PC), James C. Pullos (Clifford Law Offices PC) and Patrick A. Salvi II (Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard PC). The event was emceed by award-winning Chicago media personality and NHM Trustee Andrea Darlas.
Retired Judge Paul Lillios (Pericles) and Tinos Diamantatos of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius at the Trial of Pericles. Credit Elios Photography
While the defense made a strong case that Pericles was defending Athens’ fragile democracy against foreign influence when he changed the constitution, retracting citizenship and voting rights for a quarter of all Athenian citizens overnight, the prosecution ultimately convinced the jurors that Pericles subverted the rule of law since he could not prove his controversial citizenship law had been formally voted on by the Athenian assembly. (It was humorously suggested by the prosecution that perhaps “a dog in the chorió ate the papyrus.”) As in ancient Greece, the Harris Theater audience became the jurors who decided Pericles’ fate at the end of the trial, voting with a white chip for innocence or a blue chip for guilt. The chips were collected and placed on the scales of justice on stage, where the outcome was overwhelmingly “guilty.”
All three judges found Pericles guilty, including Hon. Anna H. Demacopoulos (Ret. Circuit Court Judge, State of Illinois), Hon. Anthony C. Kyriakopoulos (Circuit Court Judge, State of Illinois) and Hon. Lindsay C. Jenkins (U.S. District Court Judge, Northern District of Illinois). The 12-member panel of esteemed jurors on stage—comprised of civic leaders, academics and media personalities—found Pericles guilty by a margin of 10-2. Jurors included Justice Eileen O'Neill Burke (Ret.), Democratic Nominee for Cook County State's Attorney; Steve Cochran, Host of the Steve Cochran Show on WLS AM 890; 34th Ward Alderman Bill Conway; Professor Nicholas Doumanis, Professor and Illinois Chair in Hellenic Studies at the University of Illinois Chicago; Themistocles P. Frangos, Officer of the Hellenic Bar Association; Professor Zoi Gavriilidou, Visiting Professor at the University of Chicago; Shia Kapos, Reporter for POLITICO; Cannon Lambert of Karchmar & Lambert, P.C. and Past President of the Cook County Bar Association; Commander Melinda Linas, 14th District Commander of the Chicago Police Department; John C. Sciaccotta of Aronberg Goldgehn, President Elect of the Chicago Bar Association; Kristofer Swanson, Vice President and Practice Leader of Forensic Services at Charles River Associates; and Consul Georgia Tasiopoulou of the Greek Consulate General in Chicago.
The National Hellenic Museum recognizes and appreciates the support of its Lead Sponsors for The Trial of Pericles, as well as the generosity of all the sponsors who helped make this event possible. Lead Sponsors were Calamos Investments; Clifford Law Offices; The Jaharis Family Foundation; The James A. Regas Family; and Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard.
The Trial of Pericles event co-chairs were NHM Trustees Konstantinos Armiros, counsel at Saul Ewing LLP, and Judge Anna Demacopoulos (Ret.).
The dynamic NHM Trial Series highlights the enduring relevance and value of ancient Greek thought and history and supports the mission of the National Hellenic Museum. It has grown both in reputation and following since its inception in 2013. In 2016, NHM’s The Trial of Antigone was broadcast on WTTW TV (PBS Chicago) and in May 2017 it was nominated for a Midwest regional Emmy. Subsequent NHM Trial Series events have also aired on public television and received regional Emmy nominations. Since 2017, the annual event has been qualified by the Illinois Attorney Registration & Disciplinary Commission (IARDC) for continuing legal education (CLE) credit. Attorneys attending the event can register for CLE credit on site.
About the National Hellenic Museum
The National Hellenic Museum (NHM) has a mission to share Greek history, art, culture and the Greek American story. NHM preserves the Hellenic legacy and makes this rich heritage relevant today through its extensive collection of more than 10,000 physical artifacts, hundreds of oral histories, exhibitions, educational programs, and special events. Originally founded in 1983 and located in Chicago’s historic Greektown neighborhood since 2011, the museum provides lifelong learning for the community and sparks inquiry and discussion about the broader issues in our lives and society. Regular museum hours are Thursday through Sunday from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Learn more at nationalhellenicmuseum.org.