Kevin L. Cope | Lightnews

Kevin Cope @kevinlcope.bsky.social · 4d

Right.

Political Analysis @polanalysis.bsky.social · 11d

Currently in FirstView: In “An Expert-Sourced Measure of Judicial Ideology,” @kevinlcope.bsky.social develops a method for estimating the ideology of federal judges. He introduces the Jurist-Derived Judicial Ideology Score (JuDJIS) which is based on over 20,000 evaluations by a sample of jurists.

Rick Hasen @rickhasen.bsky.social · Oct 1

“An Expert-Sourced Measure of Judicial Ideology” electionlawblog.org?p=152327

"An Expert-Sourced Measure of Judicial Ideology" #ELB

Kevin Cope has written this article for Political Analysis. Abstract: This article develops the first dynamic method for systematically estimating the ideologies and other traits of nearly the entire ...

electionlawblog.org

Andy Tseng @andytseng.bsky.social · Jun 6

U.S. democracy faces threats, but a strong press, courts, federalism, and civic groups give hope. Let’s hope @kevinlcope.bsky.social and Mila Versteeg are right about the resilience of U.S. democracy.
#Democracy #USPol #Judiciary #USConstitution

American Democracy Still Has a Lot Going for It

A distinct set of six institutions and traditions makes the country hard to subjugate to an authoritarian’s will.

www.theatlantic.com

Kevin Cope @kevinlcope.bsky.social · May 28

EOs must also conform to the Constitution. Thus, the court-ordered injunctions against many of Trump's in recent weeks, including today. www.nytimes.com/2025/05/27/u...

Judge Strikes Down Trump Order Targeting WilmerHale

www.nytimes.com

Kevin Cope @kevinlcope.bsky.social · May 26

My op-ed in the Atlantic this morning with Mila Versteeg was originally called “Why American Democracy is Harder to Break.” And I really do believe that’s true. But as we say in the article, that can’t be an excuse for complacency.

The Atlantic @theatlantic.com · May 26

“America is more resilient than many may fear. Unlike countries where democracy has recently unraveled, the United States displays at least six exceptional traits that are protecting it from the Trump-led assault,” Mila Versteeg and @kevinlcope.bsky.social write:

America’s Democracy Is Still Resilient

A distinct set of six institutions and traditions make the country hard to subjugate to an authoritarian’s will.

bit.ly

The Atlantic @theatlantic.com · May 26

“America is more resilient than many may fear. Unlike countries where democracy has recently unraveled, the United States displays at least six exceptional traits that are protecting it from the Trump-led assault,” Mila Versteeg and @kevinlcope.bsky.social write:

America’s Democracy Is Still Resilient

A distinct set of six institutions and traditions make the country hard to subjugate to an authoritarian’s will.

bit.ly

Eric Lipton NYT @ericlipton.nytimes.com · May 12

Corruption requires explict quid pro quo. It is not corrupt to take an action that aligns with the interest of a person who gives you a gift, unless the official action was in direct response to that gift--a bribe. Terms matter. Accuracy and fairness matters. Regardless of what social media wants.

UVA Law School @uvalaw.bsky.social · May 8

Prof. @kevinlcope.bsky.social discusses #SCOTUS rulings that govern students’ First Amendment rights.

Alexandria City Public Schools debates future policy for student journalists

Alexandria City High School students who run the over 70-year-old Theogony newspaper say the school should adopt a less restrictive policy.

www.wvtf.org

Kevin Cope @kevinlcope.bsky.social · May 7

Celebrating the Confederacy is despicable, but Virginia’s stripping Confederate groups of tax exemptions probably violates the 1st Amendment. I talked to @radioiq.bsky.social about the issue yesterday.

UVA Law School @uvalaw.bsky.social · May 7

Prof. @kevinlcope.bsky.social discusses legislation that would roll back tax-exempt status for Confederate heritage organizations in Virginia.

Youngkin vetoes Confederate tax break roll back, but 1A scholar says that might be best

Del. Alex Askew’s effort passed the 2025 session along party lines, but Governor Glenn Youngkin vetoed it over the weekend saying, “narrowly targeting specific organizations to gain or lose such tax e...

www.wvtf.org

UVA Law School @uvalaw.bsky.social · May 7

Prof. @kevinlcope.bsky.social discusses legislation that would roll back tax-exempt status for Confederate heritage organizations in Virginia.

Youngkin vetoes Confederate tax break roll back, but 1A scholar says that might be best

Del. Alex Askew’s effort passed the 2025 session along party lines, but Governor Glenn Youngkin vetoed it over the weekend saying, “narrowly targeting specific organizations to gain or lose such tax e...

www.wvtf.org

Kevin Cope @kevinlcope.bsky.social · Apr 28

Richmond City Council prohibits any resident speaker from *mentioning* Mayor @dannyavula.bsky.social’s name during meetings!

The @richmond.com Times-Dispatch asked me whether that’s unconstitutional. Short answer: most certainly yes. richmond.com/news/local/g...

City Council's actions during public comment likely violate First Amendment, lawyers say

City Council President Cynthia Newbille says the body's rules of procedure prohibit members of the public from referencing public officials when giving their remarks.

richmond.com

People’s Parity Project @peoplesparity.bsky.social · Apr 21

👉 1/3 Capitulation to Trump is not the only option ahead for Big Law, writes Rachel Cohen and Kevin Cope @kevinlcope.bsky.social, former Skadden attorneys. Here are two others:

slate.com/news-and-pol...

There’s Only One Real Way to Reverse Big Law’s Capitulation to Trump

We are former attorneys of the law firm Skadden, Arps; one of us recently resigned a position over Skadden’s capitulation to a threatened executive order.

slate.com

Thomas Frampton @tframpton.bsky.social · Apr 17

Good stuff from my colleague @kevinlcope.bsky.social and Rachel Cohen:

slate.com/news-and-pol...

Kevin Cope @kevinlcope.bsky.social · Apr 17

In this op-ed with @cohen489.bsky.social just published on @slate.com, we explain how law students and junior lawyers may have a unique power to fight and end the #BigLaw firm EO crisis. slate.com/news-and-pol... @uvalaw.bsky.social

Kevin Cope @kevinlcope.bsky.social · Apr 6

My amazing wife Mila Versteeg was quoted in the @nytimes.com today on the prospect of a Trump 3rd term: "Mila Versteeg, a law professor at [@uvalaw.bsky.social] and the study’s lead author, said such leaders try to wrap their power grabs in the veneer of legality." www.nytimes.com/2025/04/06/u...

Kevin Cope @kevinlcope.bsky.social · Apr 3

I'm proud to be part of this statement released by 68 @uvalaw.bsky.social faculty colleagues, on the recent executive orders and administration actions. tinyurl.com/statementof6...

It's great to see so many law colleagues speaking up for the rule of law & the legal profession.