Rehnquist

Herman B Wells looks on as U.S. Supreme Court Justice William Rehnquist speaks in the Moot Court Room of the IU Law School. The title of the speech was The Treason Trials of Indianapolis" where he analyzed trials conducted after the Civil War, the subject of his upcoming book. During his Oct. 25-28 visit, Rehnquist also spoke to classes and participated in a mock trial. Photo by Matt McClain.

Rehnquist orings wisdom

U.S. Supreme Court Justice speaks to stucents anc facul7

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ith a slow and steady pace, U.S. Supreme Court Justice William Rehnquist made his way across the court room in the IU Law School. His black judge's robe billowed behind him as the stern-faced justice took his seat and waited for the trial to begin.

During his visit, Rehnquist led a panel of judges in what was titled, "The Trial of Richard the III," a recreation of an actual trial that occurred 500 years ago. Participants in the mock trial debated whether King Richard III of England ordered an accomplice to kill his two young nephews who might have had a claim to the throne. "The trial was pretty interesting. There is real distinction between innocence and guilt in a modern standpoint verses historical standpoint," said David Greenberg, a Tri-North student. Third-year law student Paige Porter and James Fitzpatrick, an IU Alumnus and partner for the Washington, D.C. law firm of Arnold & Porter led the prosecution. Using historical and physical evidence to support motive and opportunity, they tried to prove that someone murdered the two princes, that Richard III was complicit in the murder and that he was an accomplice. "Assemble these many pieces of evidence into a mosaic of guilt," Fitzpatrick said.

The defense team tried to discredit the prosecution based on a lack of concrete evidence and the circulation of unreliable rumors about the original case.

In the end, defense attorney John Walda, president of the Ili Board of Trustees and a Fort Wayne attorney, told the court, "We are not here to prove who killed the princes in the tower. We are here to set the record straight on Richard III."

After conferring and discussing the presented evidence, the panel made its decision. "The court is divided," Rehnquist said. The panel concluded Richard III was probably involved in the murders, but there wasn't enough evidence and the court was split, 2-1, in favor of the defense. "The outcome wasn't predetermined, but it wasn't difficult to predict," said law professor Craig Bradley, who clerked for Rehnquist in the Oct. 1985 season.

In contrast to his trip to IU in 1992 where riots and protests ensued because of his conservative stance, the campus remained quiet. The mock trial was the highlight of the justice's visit, but he also included appearances to several law classes and a speech titled "The Treason Trials of Indianapolis."

by Naomi Blume

IU Law School students had the opportunity to discuss Supreme Court grants and certs with Rehnquist. Meeting one of most influential minds in the United States face to face was one of the goals of the Jurist in Residence program of the IU Law School. The Rehnquist visit served as a key educational tool for students outside the classroom. "It's a value for students primarily to see and interact with someone who is considered a mystical figure," said law professor Joseph Hoffmann, who clerked for Rehnquist during the 1985 session. "Imagine him walking out of a bowling alley. He's a normal guy — a smart normal guy."

He was really down-toearth. It was exciting being in the presence of the chief justice. His lecture was exciting and interesting. JeredWilson

Rehnquist also presented his speech entitled "The Treason Trials of Indianapolis.The speech, a spin-off of book research, analyzed the trials conducted in the aftermath of the Civil War and how the war changed the nature of habeas corpus laws.

The visit allowed law students and faculty to learn about how historical cases related to modern court. Rehnquist's visit also offered a much broader purpose — it de-mystified a person thought only to exist in law and history books. "He was really down-to-earth," said Jered Wilson, a third-year law student. "It was exciting being in the presence of the chief justice. His lecture was exciting and

interesting. - LI