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Volume 157, No. 166 Wednesday, August 24, 2011

By John Flynn RooneyLaw Bulletin staff writer

Before Nicholas Geanopoulos began lawschool in the late 1970s, he did not know anylawyers.

Looking back, I did not have a lot of peopleto turn to when I started law school, saidGeanopoulos, now a Cook County circuit judgeserving in the Child Protection Division, whereabuse and neglect matters are heard.

Prior to becoming a judge in early 2008,Geanopoulos volunteered as a lead tutor forIllinois bar examination preparation classessponsored by Minority Legal EducationResources Inc. Geanopoulos currently serves asa volunteer mentor for the Womens BarAssociation of Illinois (WBAI).

The one thing I try to do as an attorney and a judge is to help law students, Geanopoulos said.

Erin Forbes, a second-year student atChicago-Kent College of Law, said Geanopouloshas served as her mentor through the WBAI forabout a year. Geanopoulos extended an openinvitation to Forbes to visit his courtroom.

He also helped Forbes lineup an externposition with Cook County Circuit Judge Jesse G.Reyes, who sits in the Chancery DivisionsMortgage Foreclosure/Mechanics Lien Section,she said.

Forbes said she visited Geanopouloscourtroom once.

Geanopoulos explained everything reallywell, Forbes said. He put things in terms Iunderstood as a first-year law student.

Born in Chicago and raised on the South Side,Geanopoulos is the oldest of Gus and ShirleyGeanopoulos three children.

Both his parents are now retired. Gus

Geanopoulos worked in the restaurant andproduce businesses, while his wife was ahomemaker who worked part-time.

Geanopoulos credits his parents with instillinga strong work ethic and encouraging him topursue higher education.

Geanopoulos attended the University of Illinois at Chicago and graduated from there witha bachelors degree in criminal justice in 1979.He was the first member of his extended familyto graduate from college and obtain an advanceddegree, Geanopoulos said.

He possessed a longstanding interest in the

law and enrolled at The John Marshall LawSchool.

While in law school, Geanopoulos beganhandling criminal matters with a Rule 711 licensefor the Cook County states attorneys office.That Illinois Supreme Court rule allows lawstudents to argue cases under the supervision of a licensed attorney.

Among the lawyers who supervised

In Chambers

Ben Speckmann

Nicholas GeanopoulosCircuit Judge

Cook County Circuit CourtAppointed: 2008.Career highlights: Sole practitioner,2006-2008; associate, Vrdolyak Law GroupLLC, 1992-2006; Cook County assistantstates attorney, 1983-1992.Age: 53.Law school: The John Marshall Law School,1982.Interests: National and international trav-el and reading books about Chicago historyand the local criminal justice system.

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Geanopoulos puts the kids first

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Copyright 2011 Law Bulletin Publishing Company. All rights reserved. Reprinted with permission from Law Bulletin Publishing Company.

Geanopoulos in the prosecutors office wasTerence P. Gillespie, now a criminaldefense attorney with Genson & Gillespie.

Geanopoulos had a lot of potential then,Gillespie said. He was hard working andhad common sense, a great combination.

Geanopoulos received his law degreefrom The John Marshall Law School in1982 and was admitted to the Illinois baron May 5, 1983.

He then joined the states attorneysoffice as a prosecutor. Geanopoulos initiallyhandled appeals and then traffic cases.

After working in the office for slightlymore than a year, Geanopoulos beganprosecuting narcotics cases in the CriminalDivision at 26th Street and CaliforniaAvenue. He also later served as a leadprosecutor in the offices gang crimes unit.

Geanopoulos would appear before JudgeThemis N. Karnezis, who now serves onthe 1st District Appellate Court.

Karnezis said Geanopoulos worked verydiligently and fairly, and came to courtprepared.

Geanopoulos was always a truegentleman and a true professional when hetried cases before me, Karnezis said.

After working as a prosecutor for nineyears ending in 1992, Geanopoulos joinedthe Vrdolyak Law Group LLC and handledcivil litigation there.

I just felt it was time to look in anotherdirection and learn civil work,

Geanopoulos said.In 2006, Geanopoulos branched out on

his own and concentrated on criminaldefense and employment law.

Geanopoulos said he enjoyed publicservice and had long been interested inbecoming a judge.

In February 2008, the Illinois SupremeCourt appointed Geanopoulos to the CookCounty Circuit Court. Last year, the

justices recalled Geanopoulos through Nov.30, 2013.

Geanopoulos said he has submitted hiscredentials and seeks to become a CookCounty associate judge.

After hearing traffic cases for about fourmonths, Geanopoulos moved to the ChildProtection Division in June 2008. Beforethat, he had never been in the building thathouses the division.

I had both a civil and a criminalbackground, which I think is helpful in thisdivision, Geanopoulos said. I think itsthe most rewarding thing Ive ever donewith my law license.

Maryam Ahmad served as the lead CookCounty prosecutor in Geanopouloscourtroom when he started his stint in theChild Protection Division. Ahmad currentlyworks as the sexual harassment officer forthe Chicago Department of HumanResources but plans to return to the statesattorneys office next week, she said.

What impressed me the most about

him was his willingness to learn childprotection law, Ahmad said. He picked upon the law really quickly.

Dean N. Bastounes, a Chicago lawyerwho primarily represents parents beforeGeanopoulos, said the judge is a veryintelligent guy who is down to earth, whichI think is a good combination.

He puts the kids first as he should.The most challenging part of his job

involves making decisions about the bestinterests of a child, Geanopoulos said.

Its difficult to tell someone, wereterminating your parental rights,Geanopoulos said.

Geanopoulos is married to Sandra A.Navarro, a Cook County assistant statesattorney. He enjoys traveling and readingbooks about Chicago history and the localcriminal justice system.

But Geanopoulos also thoroughly enjoyshis job. He recently reunited threechildren, who were placed in foster care,with their mother.

One of the most gratifying things iswhen you get parents who complete drugor mental health services and essentiallyget their life back on track so they canhave their children returned home,Geanopoulos said.

I do have a number cases wherechildren are wards of the court who attendand finish college. Thats very rewarding tome.