The Honorable Ourania “Rainy” Papademetriou

The Honorable Ourania “Rainy” Papademetriou Life Long Dedication to Helping Others

In 2016, Ourania “Rainy” Papademetriou, was sworn in as a judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County, becoming the first Greek-American woman to hold that position. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in English cum laude from Salve Regina College and her Juris Doctor from Temple Law School. Upon passing the bar, Judge Papademetriou became managing attorney at Philadelphia VIP, a nonprofit corporation that provided free legal services to those in need. She also served as the Director of legal services for Women Against Abuse and was an assistant district attorney in the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office.

Judge Papademetriou is the daughter of Reverend Spyridon Papademetriou and Presbytera Metaxia Papademetriou, and the granddaughter of Reverend Constantine Papademetriou and her namesake, Presbytera Ourania Papademetriou. Prior to becoming an attorney, she was an English teacher at Thompson Junior High, where she and both her brothers attended in Newport, Rhode Island.

Judge Papademetriou is married to Jon Belizonsi, Esquire, for thirty-one years. They met in law school. They have lived and worked in Philadelphia for over thirty-five years and raised their daughters in the Philadelphia Public Schools. Their daughter Eleni, and her husband William Fritze are both assistant district attorneys in the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office, and their daughter Lisa is a tax accountant for Comcast. Judge Papademetriou and her family all attend the historic St. George Greek Orthodox Cathedral.

Judge Papademetriou has devoted her professional life to helping others and is proud of her “Spartan” heritage.