When King John signed Magna Carta in 1215, he was responding to the demands of rebellious barons. Over the centuries, however, Magna Carta has become a cornerstone of Western legal thought.
What is Magna Carta, and how has it influenced the US Constitution and American law? Charles Eskridge of Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP considers this seminal legal document and its storied history.
As always, the Federalist Society takes no particular legal or public policy positions. All opinions are those of the speaker.
Learn more about Charles Eskridge:
https://www.quinnemanuel.com/attorneys/eskridge-charles/
Related Links & Differing Views:
The New Yorker: “The Rule of History”
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2015/04/20/the-rule-of-history
Houses of Parliament: “Magna Carta & Parliament”
https://www.parliament.uk/documents/Magna-Carta-and-Parliament-Booklet.pdf
UVA Lawyer: “The Sheer Force of an Idea”
https://www.law.virginia.edu/static/uvalawyer/html/alumni/uvalawyer/f14/magnacarta.htm
International Review of Law and Economics: “Magna Carta, the rule of law, and the limits on government”
https://www.sas.upenn.edu/~jesusfv/Magna_Carta.pdf
The Federalist Society Blog “The Real Great Charter—Not Magna Carta, but the American Constitution”
https://fedsoc.org/commentary/blog-posts/liberty-month-revisited-the-real-great-charter-not-magna-carta-but-the-american-constitution
Cato Institute: “Magna Carta and the Rule of Law around the World”
https://www.cato.org/events/magna-carta-rule-law-around-world
The Heritage Foundation: “The Role for Magna Carta in American in 2015”
https://www.heritage.org/report/the-role-magna-carta-america-2015
