History Repeats Itself at the Retrial of Megacles

By Stacy Dimakakos

A jury composed of community leaders, academics and journalists, along with an audience of hundreds, presented their verdict of guilty to a presiding panel of federal and state court judges in the National Hellenic Museum’s Trial of Megacles, held in Chicago, March 1. This fifth installment of the NHM Trial Series debated whether the ends justified the means when a government leader lied in the name of protecting democracy. On Thursday, just as it was determined in 632 BCE, it does not.

Moderated by WGN’s Andrea Darlas, the event featured a re-trial of Megacles, an ancient Athenian leader who ordered the death of a traitor to the city’s power. When Cylon, a populist Olympian hero, led an unsuccessful coup and then claimed sanctuary in the Temple of Athena, Megacles promised him and his followers a fair trial. Instead, he ordered Cylon’s execution without due process.

The judiciary panel was composed of four judges: from the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals Judge William J. Bauer, U.S. District Judge Charles P. Kocoras and Cook County Circuit Judge Anna H. Demacopoulos and, new this year, U.S. District Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman.

Prosecuting Megacles for violating the sanctity of supplicants and subverting the laws of Athens were former U.S. Attorney Patrick J. Fitzgerald of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom and Patrick M. Collins of King & Spalding. Megacles’ defense team was composed of Robert A. Clifford of Clifford Law Offices and Tinos Diamantatos of Morgan Lewis. Christina Faklis Adair of Gozdecki, Del Giudice, Americus, Farkas & Brocato examined expert witness Katherine Kelaidis, Ph.D., a Visiting Assistant Professor at DePaul University.

“The audience participation element in this event makes it truly unique,” said NHM Trustee and Chair of the NHM Trial Series Committee, Dino Armiros. “While the cases are selected for their modern-day relevance, the attorneys make compelling arguments, and expert testimony and opinions presented by thought leaders are provocative and intriguing. This isn’t a sit and watch event. It’s a learn and vote event – with audience members becoming truly vested in the proceedings.”

Attendees of the NHM Trial of Megacles experienced the court in the style of ancient Athens where juries were often composed of hundreds of citizens. An added modern element to this courtroom was the mix of wit and humor in the dynamic legal presentations. All in attendance were in rapt attention following the arguments that made ancient history relevant through modern references. “In Athens, the responsibility to act as a juror was incumbent on all citizens,” said expert witness Dr. Kelaidis. “This is what we did Thursday night. We gave everyone a vote.”

Serving as distinguished jurors: Cynthia Photos Abbott, Vice President & General Counsel, WBEZ, Chicago Public Media; University of Illinois at Chicago Chancellor Dr. Michael D. Amiridis; Cook County Public Administrator Hon. Louis G. Apostol; George Apostolides, Partner & Vice Chair National Litigation, Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr, LLP; Lori D. Barcliff Baptista, Ph.D., African-American Cultural Center Director, University of Illinois at Chicago; WGN Host Anna Davlantes; Illinois State Rep. and House Minority Leader Jim Durkin; Calamos Wealth Management Sr. Vice President Anita Knotts; Cook County Circuit Court Judge Anthony C. Kyriakopoulos; Thomas G. Massouras, Trial Attorney and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney, U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development Office of Regional Counsel; Chicago Tribune Columnist Heidi Stevens; and Lorien Yonker, Research Associate, The Art Institute of Chicago Dept. of Ancient and Byzantine Art.

The verdict breakdown was 11 guilty and 1 not guilty among the jury of 12. The jury’s determining verdict was supported by the hundreds of attendees when the scales of justice were literally tipped to guilty by the majority of the voting chips. The esteemed panel of judges unanimously found Megacles guilty, while acknowledging the strength of the arguments by defense counsel.

The event affirmed the importance of holding a trial of the accused, even during a time of violent insurrection. Judges, jury and citizen audience noted that due process continues to be crucial to democracy, just as it was in the earliest days of Athens.

The Trial of Megacles was approved for 1.5 hours Ethics CLE by the Attorney Registration & Disciplinary Commission of the Supreme Court of Illinois.

The dynamic NHM Trial Series has grown both in reputation and following over the years. The 2016 Trial of Antigone was broadcast on WTTW-TV (PBS Chicago) in May 2017 and nominated for a regional Emmy. The 2017 Trial of the Parthenon Marbles is expected to be released on DVD soon.