Tomorrow at the Harris Theater: Pericles on trial

Democrat or demagogue?

With Pericles, there's a case to be made for either... and both.

The case tomorrow, Wednesday, April 17 at 7:00 p.m., at the Harris Theater, 205 E. Randolph St., is an ancient case regarding citizenship, voting rights and Pericles — with audience members casting their votes to decide the final verdict.

The Trial of Pericles is nearly 2,500 years in the making. In 451 B.C., Pericles changed the Athenian Constitution to restrict citizenship to those born to two Athenian parents. He said this action was necessary to protect Athens from foreign influence, while many others saw this as tyrannical because citizens lost their civil liberties, including the right to vote. Some speculated Pericles would have faced trial for his actions had he survived the Great Plague of Athens.

The National Hellenic Museum is presenting this trial tomorrow as part of its continuing exploration of how the ancient Greeks grappled with timeless controversies that continue to shape modern society.

The prosecution team for the Trial of Pericles includes attorneys 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 will be Sarah F. King (Clifford Law Offices PC), James C. Pullos (Clifford Law Offices PC) and Patrick A. Salvi II (Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard PC).

Judges presiding at the Trial of Pericles are 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 April 17 event will be emceed by award-winning Chicago media personality and NHM Trustee Andrea Darlas. Prominent jurors at the Trial include: Justice Eileen O'Neill Burke (Ret.), the 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, an 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 role of Pericles will be played by Paul Lillios, the former Associate Chief Administrative Law Judge of the U.S. Social Security Administration, and the role of Olympia, a non-Athenian wife and mother in Athens serving as a witness for the prosecution, will be played by Cook County Circuit Court Judge Megan Goldish.

Tickets for this event are $100; student tickets available for $50 with proof of ID. Attorneys who attend this event will qualify for 1.5 hours of continuing legal education (CLE); CLE registration will be available at the theater. Tickets are available via this page of the museum website. Questions not resolved by reference to the website can be directed to (312) 655-1234.