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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowThis year’s Law Day recognizes the 800th anniversary of the Magna Carta and its theme: No one is above the law.
The Magna Carta was sealed in 1215 and has become an international symbol of the rule of law and an inspiration for many basic rights Americans hold dear today, such as due process and habeas corpus, according to the American Bar Association.
“This Law Day, we celebrate a milestone in the extraordinary history of the rule of law by marking the 800th anniversary of the Magna Carta. Centuries ago, when kings, emperors, and warlords reigned over much of the world, it was this extraordinary document – agreed to by the King of England in 1215 – that first spelled out the rights and liberties of man. The ideals of the Magna Carta inspired America’s forefathers to define and protect many of the rights expressed in our founding documents, which we continue to cherish today,” President Barack Obama said in a proclamation issued Thursday.
President Dwight D. Eisenhower established Law Day in 1958 as a day of national dedication to the principles of government under law. Congress in 1961 designated May 1 as the official date to mark Law Day.
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