Supreme Court and Civil Rights Commission To Mark 50th Anniversary of Landmark Brown v. Board Of Education Case

The Indiana Supreme Court and the Indiana Civil Rights Commission on May 17, 2004 will mark the 50th anniversary of the landmark civil rights case, Brown v. Board of Education, the case that ordered the end of segregation in public schools, Chief Justice Randall T. Shepard announced today.

Chief Justice Shepard and Gov. Joseph E. Kernan will make brief remarks in the Supreme Court Courtroom on the third floor of the State House beginning at 10 a.m. Following their remarks, Sandra D. Leek, executive director of the Indiana Civil Rights Commission, will introduce Gilbert Taylor, curator of the Crispus Attucks Museum, who will speak about his experiences attending segregated schools in Indianapolis.

In addition, the short program will also include a scripted trial of the events surrounding Brown. Audience members, including about 100 Indiana grade school students, will participant in this re-enactment. Dr. Suellen Reed, Superintendent of Public Instruction, will lead the students in a discussion of Brown.

Following the Courtroom event, from 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. in the House Chamber, the Supreme Court and the Civil Rights Commission are hosting a Continuing Legal Education session featuring Professor Kevin D. Brown, of the Indiana University School of Law.

Professor Brown will offer a session titled, “The Golden Anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education: The Positives and the Negatives.”

The Continuing Legal Education event costs $20 in advance and $25 at the door. To register for the Continuing Legal Education event, contact Barbara Dobbins at 317.232.2644 or bdobbins@crc.state.in.us.

All events are open to the public and the media. The Courtroom event will be webcast “live” and archived for later viewing. To watch the webcast, visit www.IN.gov/judiciary/citc.