Milligan's War

Milligan's War refers to the legal case surrounding Lambdin Milligan, who was convicted of conspiracy to rebel against the Union during the American Civil War. The controversy centered on whether civilian courts could try military offenses when regular courts were operational. In 1866, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that it was unconstitutional to try civilians in military courts in areas where civil courts were functioning. The case highlighted the tension between wartime powers and individual rights, affirming that civilian judicial processes must be maintained unless martial law is truly justified.