MISSOULA — The University of Montana will host several high-profile visitors on campus in September.

Aside from rock star Elton John’s Sept. 28 appearance, the visitors include a presidential candidate, the chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court and the ambassador from the Republic of Indonesia.

During a fundraising tour of the region, Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards will stop in Missoula and give a public talk at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 4, in the North Ballroom of the University Center, said Jim Foley, UM’s executive vice president.

Details of Edwards’ UM appearance are still being finalized, but it will be a relatively “casual’’ event, where Edwards will speak for a short while and then mingle with the crowd, Foley said. After the meet-and-greet, Edwards will likely head off to a private fundraising event in Missoula.

Edwards, a one-term U.S. senator from North Carolina, was the Democratic nominee for vice president in 2004 and the running mate of Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts.

Edwards announced his entry into the 2008 presidential race last Dec. 27. National polls have shown him placing third behind Democratic contenders Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.

On Friday, Sept. 7, Indonesian Ambassador Sudjadnan Parnohadiningrat will tour campus with his education attache and talk with UM administrators, faculty, staff and students. Indonesia is gearing up to sponsor about 3,000 college-age students who want to receive their higher education in the United States.

The ambassador became interested in Montana after attending an economic summit in Butte last spring, which is where talks began about sending some of his country’s college students to Montana.

U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts will be on campus Thursday, Sept. 13, and Friday, Sept. 14, to give the annual address at the Law School’s William B. Jones and Judge Edward A. Tamm Judicial Lecture Series.

Roberts will give a public talk at 2 p.m. Sept. 13 in the University Theatre. Although the title of his talk is not yet known, the UM lecture series is dedicated to enhancing the public’s understanding of the judicial system.

Previous speakers have included FBI Director Louis Freeh and U.S. Supreme Court associate justices Sandra Day O’Connor and Clarence Thomas.

Roberts was confirmed by the U.S. Senate as the 17th chief justice of the Supreme Court on Sept. 25, 2005. His swearing-in marked the first addition to the court in more than 11 years the longest stretch without a new member since 1823.

At age 50, Roberts became the youngest chief justice since John Marshall took the bench in 1801 at the age of 45.

The month’s notable appearances concludes on Friday night, Sept. 28, when rock star Elton John is expected to appear in concert at the Adams Center. Details of that concert will be announced after UM inks a contract with the rock icon.

Reporter Betsy Cohen can be reached at 523-5253 or at bcohen@missoulian.com.