[3] Milburn was elected Indiana Attorney General in 1914, defeating Republican candidate Ele Stansbury.
He appointed Horace M. Kean (from Jasper) as assistant attorney general, Roy Naftzger (from Muncie) as deputy attorney general, Michael A. Sweeney (from Jasper, Milburn's law partner) as traveling deputy, Omer Stokes Jackson (of Greenfield, later Indiana Attorney General himself, the only one of former AG Thomas M. Honan's appointments retained by Milburn) as second deputy, Edna Wickens (of Indianapolis) as stenographer, and Wilbur T. Gruber (of Lafayette) as deputy stenographer.
Milburn also helped to modify a notable 1910 injunction against fire insurance companies operating within Indiana.
[2][3] Milburn was a cousin of Carl M. Gray, a state senator and noted jurist who made many important contributions to Indiana law.
[9] Less than a year into his term as Attorney General, Milburn grew ill and died in November 1915.