Indiana Chief Justice Randall T. Shepard announces today that President Benjamin Harrison Day will be celebrated Tuesday, March 4, 2008 in the Indiana State House.  The program will feature a re-enactment of a famous Indiana Civil War trial that remains relevant today.

The event is the sixth annual State House celebration in honor of the 119th anniversary of President Harrison’s inauguration.  Harrison is the only Hoosier to serve as U.S. President.  He also served as the Reporter of the Indiana Supreme Court and led troops for the Indiana 70th Volunteer Regiment in the Civil War.

Tuesday's events are sponsored by the Indiana Supreme Court's “Courts in the Classroom” program, the President Benjamin Harrison Home, the State House Tour Office, and the Indiana University School of Law—Indianapolis Alumni Association.

Approximately 250 students from Harshman Middle School, Indian Creek Middle School, Indianapolis Metropolitan High School, Mooresville Christian Academy, Plainfield High School, St. Jude Catholic School, South Ripley High School, and numerous homeschools will be participating in a courtroom re-enactment of a famous U.S. Supreme Court case with Indiana roots, Ex Parte Milligan. Stephen Towne, IUPUI Special Collections and Archives, will moderate a brief discussion with the students on how Ex Parte Milligan is relevant in today's world.

Milligan, a resident of Huntington, Indiana, was sentenced to death by a military tribunal for his outspoken opposition to President Lincoln's Civil War draft and for his participation in anti-war activities. Several famous Hoosiers, including Benjamin Harrison, Oliver P. Morton, Alvin Hovey and Thomas Hendricks participated in Milligan's Indiana civil trial after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the findings of the military tribunal.

The winner of the state seal contest related to the life or ideals of Benjamin Harrison will also be recognized on Tuesday at a brief ceremony in the rotunda. Lauren Jones, a fourth grader from Mooresville Christian Academy (Mooresville, Indiana) is this year's winner.  A display of materials from the Benjamin Harrison Home will also be on exhibit in the rotunda.
The Courtroom program is open to the public but seating will be extremely limited. It will be webcast live and also archived for later viewing. Information about the webcast, the Ex Parte Milligan script and other teacher background information is available from the Courts in the Classroom website. Visit http://www.in.gov/judiciary/citc/lessons/harrison-day-2008/index.html. For more information about Benjamin Harrison, visit www.presidentbenjaminharrison.org.

For more information about this or any other Courts in the Classroom program, please contact Dr. Elizabeth R. Osborn at eosborn@courts.state.in.us or 317.232.2550.