Orestes found not guilty at Chicago museum re-enactment trial

(Enet) - At the re-enactment of trial, held at the National Hellenic Museum in Chicago, Orestes, son of Agamemnon, of the cursed House of Atreus, was found guilty by two of the three judges presiding over the case, whose verdict, however, was not taken into account. The retrial of Orestes followed the tremendous success of the National Hellenic Museum’s restaging of the trial of Socrates, which took place early last year and featured the same all-star judicial team.

The Oresteia, by Aeschylus (525-456 BC), is a foundational literary work that examines the crucial place of law in society. Consisting of Agamemnon, The Libation Bearers and The Eumenides, the trilogy constitutes a deeply affecting study of crime and punishment, probing such irresolvable and vexatious issues as the nature of justice, the frequent conflicts between love and duty, the torments of moral decision making, our obligations to the gods, society, and ourselves, and the spiritual consequences of irremediable actions. Above all, the Oresteia shows us the burdens of a culture based on the lex talionis—an eye for an eye—and the blessings of a jury trial in a court of law.

The court participants at the Orestes retrial included judges Richard A. Posner (presiding judge), Charles P. Kocoras and William J. Bauer.

Orestes was defended by Dan K. Webb (Winston & Strawn) and Robert A. Clifford (Clifford Law Offices).

Counsel for the prosecution was Patrick J. Fitzgerald (Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom) and Patrick M. Collins (Perkins Coie).

The introductory remarks and the background story of the play was presented by Hariklia Karis of Kirkland & Ellis.

Serving on the jury were 16 distinguished Chicago citizens, among them J.P. Anderson, editor-in-chief, Michigan Avenue Magazine; Louis G. Apostol, executive director & general counsel, Illinois Property Tax Appeal Board; Alderman Walter Burnett, Jr., 27th ward, City of Chicago; John Corkery, dean, John Marshall Law School; Anna Davlantes, Chicago journalist; Dean R. Glassberg, regional president, First Midwest Bank; Angelo Kokkino, president of Ghafari Associates; Eleni Kouimelis, a partner in Winston & Strawn and president-elect of the Hellenic Bar Association of Illinois; Annie Kuhlman, American Bar Association; Anthony C. Kyriakopoulos, circuit judge, Circuit Court of Cook, County State of Illinois; Dan Mihalopoulos, Chicago Sun-Times; Dr Sara Monoson, professor of political science and classics, Northwestern University; Dr Robin Rhodes, archaeologist and historian of classical art and architecture, University of Notre Dame; A. Thomas Skallas, partner at Thompson Coburn and President of the Hellenic Bar Association of Illinois and vice-chairman of the National Hellenic Museum; Neil Steinberg, Chicago Sun-Times; and Larry Yellen, Anchor, Fox News.

Founded in 1983, the National Hellenic Museum is America’s only national institution to document and present the legacy of Greek Americans and their contributions to the American mosaic, while celebrating their Greek history and culture and the impact of their Hellenic heritage on the world.

The museum is located in a 3,700m2, three-story, eco-friendly building which is home to interactive exhibits, children’s education centre, research library, oral history centre, museum store, special events hall and rooftop terrace.

Eleftherotypia, EnetEnglish's parent publication, was a sponsor of the event.