Attorney George Tamvakis, who lives in Park Ridge, was admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court recently. He and his family flew to Washington, D.C. for the swearing-in ceremony, and watched the Supreme Court justices hear a notable case.

Tamvakis was recommended for the honor by Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez, who is also president of the Chicago Bar Association. Tamvakis said he doesn’t know the specific reason she recommended him, but he was grateful for the recognition of his 23 years of practicing in workers compensation cases.

Tamvakis doesn’t expect to be arguing cases before the Supreme Court, because state statute, the Illinois Workers Compensation Act, applies in almost all the cases he handles.

“Workers compensation cases are heard in the Illinois Supreme Court, but it would be rare for them to get to the U.S. Supreme Court,” he said.

Since each state has its own workers compensation laws, only a case involving interstate matters, such as a pilot who is hired in one state, lives in another state and gets hurt in a third state, would ever reach the justices in Washington.

“So the chances of one of my cases going to the U.S. Supreme Court are very slim,” Tamvakis said.

Nevertheless, he and his family, including his mother, wife and three children, ages 12, 10 and 5, enjoyed the day in Washington. It began with a 6:30 a.m. breakfast in a Supreme Court chamber. At 10 a.m., the Supreme Court justices entered the courtroom, swore in the approximately 20 attorneys from Chicago, including Tamvakis, who were being admitted to practice before them, and proceeded to hear a case.

“It was the day they heard the Chicago gun case, and it was the hottest ticket in town. There were people standing outside who really wanted to get in,” he said.

Tamvakis’ family was able to sit close to the justices, since little distance separates the bench from the seating area, he said.

Afterward, the newly-sworn-in attorneys were welcome at a luncheon in their honor.

“It was an awesome day,” Tamvakis said. “And it’s a nice recognition. Workers compensation is not glamorous. It's the nuts and bolts of law—it’s everyday law.”

Tamvakis practices in downtown Chicago and Hegewisch.