Abraham Lincoln, Military Tribunals and Civil Liberties: Then and Now

Location: The Heritage Foundation's Lehrman Auditorium

Since the beginning of the war on terror, the treatment of enemy combatants has been a controversial issue for the United States. The Administration has recently approved the use of military tribunals for some of the detainees at Guantanamo Bay. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court will determine whether foreign nationals may sue in U.S. courts to challenge their detention.

The Heritage Foundation is pleased to host Rhode Island Supreme Court Chief Justice Frank Williams. Justice Williams was recently appointed to the review panel for appeals from the military commission to be held at Guantanamo Bay. He has studied Lincoln since he was 11 years old and serves on the U.S. Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission. He will offer a historical retrospective on the use and custom of military tribunals in American history, with a special focus on the Civil War. Please join us for a lecture on this important and timely topic.