Two South Carolina attorneys have the opportunity to witness an honoring of legislative history.
King John signing Magna Carta, England, 1215
Joel Collins of Collins & Lacy and William Hubbard of Nelson Mullins were chosen as representatives to travel to Runnymede, England to observe the 800th anniversary of the sealing of the Magna Carta June 15.
Collins, the co-founder of Collins & Lacy and President of the American Board of Trial Advocates, has been chosen to help orchestrate the major international celebration. He is scheduled to present a commemorative plaque to the Lord Mayor of Runnymede, Derek Cotty, at a dinner banquet the evening of the ceremony.
Collins currently shares his passion for the Magna Carta as part of a class he teaches about historic legal documents at the University of South Carolina Honors College.
“I have written a paper on the Magna Carta, which I continue to add elements to as I learn more about it over time and my hope is that my paper can provide, whether it be a layman, a lawyer or a historian with the perspective of why this was such a monumentally important document even today,” Collins said.
Even with a document signed in 1215, Collins says he still finds small tidbits about the document to this day adding he’ll “likely learn something new about it” on this latest trip overseas.
“I tend to be of the thought that the minute you think you’ve finally gotten to the bottom of something, you’re rudely mistaken,” Collins said.
Hubbard is president of the American Bar Association and chair of the board of directors of The World Justice Project, a multinational, multidisciplinary initiative to strengthen the rule of law worldwide.
While in Runnymede, Collins and Hubbard will attend the rededication of the ABA’s newly refurbished stone pillar memorial along the river Thames. Collins will also be present for the unveiling of a statue of Queen Elizabeth, the only one authorized to be erected in England during her lifetime.
Collins says this will be his fourth trip to England regarding the Magna Carta. He’ll host a luncheon in Runnymede on June 16 that he hopes will be attended by young local students interested in the historical element of the event.
“You just have to imagine how these people are thrilled and honored to have the whole world looking at them as they celebrate this type of event,” Collins said. “They’re rolling out the red carpet for everyone involved.”
Follow Matthew Stevens on Twitter @SCLWStevens