U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John G. Roberts will launch the ABA's yearlong, 800th anniversary commemoration of the Magna Carta during the ABA Annual Meeting in Boston this week. In his address to the House of Delegates, Roberts will talk about the historical and current significance of the document sealed by King John of England in 1215 in response to demands by landowning barons. A traveling exhibit curated by the Library of Congress, “Magna Carta: Enduring Legacy 1215-2015,” will be unveiled at the meeting and then move to cities around the country. Its travel will culminate with the ABA's London Sessions next June in England. The ABA Journal has more.

Attorneys from across the country joined their Tennessee colleagues at a reception honoring former TBA President Gail Vaughn Ashworth during the recent ABA Annual Meeting in San Francisco. The event was hosted by the Tennessee Bar Association with generous support from the University of Tennessee College of Law, the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law, Vanderbilt University Law School and Belmont University College of Law. See photos from the event.

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called on Congress to reinstate provisions of the Voting Rights Act recently struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court in remarks this week to the ABA House of Delegates. She also announced a series of speeches across the country on problems that challenge society, government and the legal system, the ABA Journal reports. After Clinton’s remarks, the House adopted a resolution urging legislators to restore the portions of the 1965 law rejected by the court. Other resolutions considered by the House included those calling for new laws to fight computer hacking by foreign governments, rules protecting attorney-client privilege when advice is given to law firm personnel by in-house counsel, and laws prohibiting the use of certain defenses, such as “gay panic” and “trans panic,” by criminal defendants. Read more about all the issues considered by the body.

The TBA YLD was recognized for a number of programs and activities at the ABA YLD Annual Meeting this past weekend in San Francisco. The YLD was awarded first place in the Minority Project category for its new invited guest program, which seeks to include the broadest range of perspectives and experiences on its governing board by inviting representatives from all specialty and minority bars in the state to attend meetings and participate in decision-making. It also received special recognition for its annual Mock Trial Competition and its overall member service and public service initiatives. Read more in a message from YLD President David McDowell.

Four Tennessee lawyers were selected for leadership positions in the ABA and other national organizations this past week: former TBA President and Memphis lawyer Danny Van Horn was named chair of the ABA Standing Committee on Membership; Knoxville lawyer Carole Lynch Worthington was elected to an at-large seat in the ABA House of Delegates; and Tennessee Attorney General Robert Cooper was named to another term as a delegate to the ABA House, representing the National Association of Attorneys General. In addition, former Nashville Bar Association President and TBA Delegate to the ABA Jonathan Cole was elected secretary of the National Conference of Bar Presidents -- a move that puts him in line to lead the group in several years. Cole is only the third Tennessean to hold that position, following in the footsteps of Memphis lawyer Shepherd Tate and Worthington.

Accepting the presidential gavel today at the ABA Annual Meeting, New York lawyer James Silkenat laid out a series of initiatives he intends to focus on during his year in office. These include a renewed effort to improve access to justice, creating employment opportunities for new lawyers and addressing the public policy issues of gun violence, immigration and election law reform. The ABA Journal reports.

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Anthony M. Kennedy spoke out against human trafficking on Saturday after attendees at the ABA Annual Meeting had heard from Minh Dang, a victim of human slavery. In his keynote address, Kennedy recounted statistics indicating there are 27 million people being held as slaves around the world, with at least 100,000 of them in the United States. "Let's stop human trafficking," he said. "I urge you to continue to bring this to the world's attention." On Monday, the ABA House of Delegates overwhelmingly approved model legislation for states to use in adopting new prohibitions against human trafficking. In related news, the Equal Opportunity Employment Commission announced it has begun using civil actions -- which require a lesser burden of proof than criminal actions -- against those who traffic or abuse employees, while a federal judge struck down a New Jersey law aimed at fighting the sexual trafficking of minors. The ABA Journal has more on these developments.