A CLE event focusing on international prosecution of war crimes, genocide, and crimes against humanity will be held in the Indiana Supreme Courtroom on May 7, Chief Justice Randall T. Shepard announced today. 

The free CLE will be held on Wednesday, May 7, 2008, from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m. (EDT) in the Supreme Court Courtroom in the Indiana State House in downtown Indianapolis.  It will also be webcast live.*  To view the program, please go to http://www.in.gov/judiciary/citc/cle/warcrimes/index.html.

What are the differences between and among war crimes, genocide, and crimes against humanity?  What bodies of international and domestic law apply during civil war, international armed conflict, and/or peacetime?  What are the trial and appellate procedures in international criminal tribunals?  Who chooses (and trains) those tribunals' prosecutors, defense counsel, and judges? 

Our speakers have recent and direct experience with these topics.  Judge Nancy Vaidik of the Indiana Court of Appeals has recently returned from teaching a 7-day seminar in Arusha, Tanzania to UN prosecutors who are prosecuting genocide and crimes against humanity in Congo, Sudan, Rwanda, and the former Yugoslavia. George Edwards, a professor of the IU School of Law—Indianapolis, has worked on a variety of international cases including for the defense on the cases against Slobodan Milosevic, the detainees at Guantanamo Bay, and Omar Khadr.

The sold-out event is free, but standby reservations are still being accepted.  Please email shachey@courts.state.in.us to reserve a seat.  Webcast viewing outside the courtroom will be available for those not able to reserve a seat.  Light refreshments will follow.

1.5 CLE credit hours have been approved for this program.  The CLE number is 0110761.

For more information, please contact Dr. Elizabeth R. Osborn, Assistant to the Chief Justice for Court History and Public Education at 317.232.2550 or her assistant at shachey@courts.state.in.us.

*Those viewing the event via webcast will not receive CLE credit.