Today I had the privilege of looking at Magna Carta. It was amazing to be just inches of glass away from the seed of the rule of law globally. While I was excited, the gentleman to my right said he had driven 3,000 miles to see Magna Carta, and a 10-year-old boy standing to my left commented, “just think of all of the things this piece of paper has affected.” I was thrilled to see how important this document was to each person in the room, and that quiet discussions were taking place about the history, its importance and its relevance today.

The exhibit, called “Magna Carta: Muse & Mentor” runs in Washington D.C. from November 6, 2014, through January 19, 2015, and is free to the public. It is being held at the Library of Congress and features the Lincoln Cathedral Magna Carta, one of the surviving copies issued in 1215. If you aren’t able to attend in person, Thomson Reuters has co-published the book, with the Library of Congress, Magna Carta: Muse & Mentor. This volume incorporates all 80 images from the exhibit and also provides scholarly articles from distinguished authors including retired Justice Sandra Day O’Connor; retired Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales Lord Igor Judge; Lady Justice Mary Arden; Sir John Baker; Jane Frecknall-Hughes; Bryan A. Garner; Robin Griffith-Jones; Carolyn Harris; A.E. Dick Howard; William C. Koch Jr.; David S. Mao; Thomas J. McSweeney; Susan Reyburn; G. Alan Tarr; and Justin Wert.

“This collaboration volume provides a unique opportunity to experience this historic document,” said Justice Randy Holland, editor of the book. “The scholars from the United Kingdom, United States, and Canada define not only the enormous impact on the U.S. Constitution, but also the relevance of Magna Carta today through books, movies and even the Jay-Z album ‘Magna Carta Holy Grail.’”  

The entrance to the Magna Carta exhibit at the Library of Congress

The entrance to the Magna Carta exhibit at the Library of Congress

Patsy Doerr, global head of Thomson Reuters Corporate Responsibility agreed. “Marking the importance of Magna Carta is central to our Thomson Reuters mission to foster a more transparent, inclusive, ethical and sustainable world. While we begin the celebration of this 800th Magna Carta anniversary…we realize this anniversary is also a reminder to all of us that the rule of law is hard fought, and not yet experienced by all. We herald the creation of this publication, and the historic documents which used Magna Carta as their basis, But we should also remember that the rule of law, fair markets and transparent governments require our unwavering attention to ensure that they can endure for future generations.”

The 308-page volume is available for purchase in print and by ebook at www.legalsolutions.com/magna-carta or you can purchase the print volume at the Library of Congress Shop.

 

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