Julie Novkov | Lightnews

Julie Novkov @jnovkov.bsky.social · 22h

MY GOD WHAT HAVE I DONE?

Julie Novkov @jnovkov.bsky.social · 23h

WTF is happening to Paine in that last . . . no, no, nevermind, let's not discuss.

Julie Novkov @jnovkov.bsky.social · 23h

Oh, I should also mention the Journal of American Constitutional History here! Pretty new and very good! jach.law.wisc.edu

Journal of American Constitutional History

The Journal of American Constitutional History is a peer-reviewed web-based journal publishing high-quality scholarship on U.S. constitutional history. Our editorial board includes over 60 leading sch...

jach.law.wisc.edu

Julie Novkov @jnovkov.bsky.social · 23h

Law & Social Inquiry, the Law and Society Review, and the Journal of Legal History are all very good journals for which I've reviewed. Sitting on an invite from Global Constitutionalism right now (sorry, Austin! I'll do it, I promise!).

Julie Novkov @jnovkov.bsky.social · 23h

More than there used to be, but still not very many. I don't think any law school's flagship law review operates with peer review. Best resource I know of to search is Washington & Lee's ranking. Feel free to post others. managementtools4.wlu.edu/LawJournals/

Law Calendar

managementtools4.wlu.edu

Julie Novkov @jnovkov.bsky.social · 23h

Oooof. That has to be difficult.

Julie Novkov @jnovkov.bsky.social · 1d

Exactly. Just like conducting ICE operations at court is intended to deter people from attending required hearings/check ins to put them in a state of non-compliance and render them deportable.

Julie Novkov @jnovkov.bsky.social · 1d

Probably ought to keep an eye on this.

Prof Gavin Yamey @gavinyamey.bsky.social · 1d

At his talk, via Zoom, to my university earlier this week, Jay Bhattacharya said, rather terrifyingly, that he sees the NIH as the research arm of the MAHA movement

Yup, RFK Jr’s anti-vaxx MAHA movement

He’ll be talking at the MAHA Institute later today; he really has become a MAHA & MAGA hero

Jeremy Berg @jeremymberg.bsky.social · 1d

Big Event Today

MAHA INSTITUTE PRESENTS
Reclaiming Science: The People's NIH
with Dr. Jay Bhattacharya

January 30, 2026
12:00–5:00pm
Registration Starting at 11:00am
The Willard Hotel
The Crystal Room
1401 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Washington, DC 20004

1/5

Julie Novkov @jnovkov.bsky.social · 1d

That won't be the case, however, if when the person's file reaches the university committee for review, the History prof looks at it and says, "oh, this person published on one of those law reviews! Those things are total garbage!"

Julie Novkov @jnovkov.bsky.social · 1d

Anyway, while small among your concerns, have a thought for that junior person who really does want to engage with you. We social scientists would like to be able to keep telling that person that some law review pubs on the CV are fine.

Julie Novkov @jnovkov.bsky.social · 1d

I also think that well-executed peer review makes it less likely that the wrong stuff gets through in the first place. (Note: this means selecting a good mix, not solely likely boosters to grease publication or detractors to sink it.)

Julie Novkov @jnovkov.bsky.social · 1d

I don't claim that this is perfect or that wrong stuff never stands. But there is a system for challenging it, and if it is shown to be wrong, addressing that in a stronger way than having the wrong article pick up eleventy billion cites from pieces published elsewhere saying "it's wrong."

Julie Novkov @jnovkov.bsky.social · 1d

In egregious situations, we retract. We follow COPE guidelines and procedures (which are terrific!). publicationethics.org

Welcome to COPE

Welcome to COPE: The membership organisation for publication ethics

publicationethics.org

Julie Novkov @jnovkov.bsky.social · 1d

But (as a former editor and someone who's been on multiple advisory boards) in our top journals, when we are notified of errors, we investigate. The journal that published may publish a short piece by a critic noting problems. If something is shown to be wrong, we publish a correction.

Julie Novkov @jnovkov.bsky.social · 1d

I'm NOT claiming that wrong stuff can't be published in PR journals! It happens! Some folks will use journal prestige as a proxy for quality, and yes, top journals are rigorous about PR and articles often go through multiple rounds. That lessens but doesn't eliminate the possibility of errors.

Julie Novkov @jnovkov.bsky.social · 1d

By maintaining a system in which demonstrably empirically incorrect work can be published in your top outlets, you undercut my ability to make this argument.

Julie Novkov @jnovkov.bsky.social · 1d

So whenever I write a letter for someone who has law review pubs, I insert a paragraph in which I explain that, even though they are not PR articles, law review articles are scholarly contributions with weight and influence. I argue that a full LR article should count the same as a PR article.

Julie Novkov @jnovkov.bsky.social · 1d

In the social sciences at a university, there's a big distinction between peer-reviewed and non-peer-reviewed pubs, and non-PR pubs are discounted, at some places entirely. But it is good for law-oriented social scientists to engage with other people who study law!

Julie Novkov @jnovkov.bsky.social · 1d

So, law friends. I know that this is about #1000 on your list of concerns, but I write a lot of external evaluation letters for tenure/promotion cases in poli sci. Because of my work, I often write for folks who study law-related topics. Many publish some of their work in law reviews.

Prof Gavin Yamey @gavinyamey.bsky.social · 1d

At his talk, via Zoom, to my university earlier this week, Jay Bhattacharya said, rather terrifyingly, that he sees the NIH as the research arm of the MAHA movement

Yup, RFK Jr’s anti-vaxx MAHA movement

He’ll be talking at the MAHA Institute later today; he really has become a MAHA & MAGA hero

Jeremy Berg @jeremymberg.bsky.social · 1d

Big Event Today

MAHA INSTITUTE PRESENTS
Reclaiming Science: The People's NIH
with Dr. Jay Bhattacharya

January 30, 2026
12:00–5:00pm
Registration Starting at 11:00am
The Willard Hotel
The Crystal Room
1401 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Washington, DC 20004

1/5

Julie Novkov @jnovkov.bsky.social · 1d

Read this instead. It will be just as fun.

The American Revolution in Indian Country: Crisis and D…

This study presents the first broad coverage of Indian …

www.goodreads.com

Julie Novkov @jnovkov.bsky.social · 1d

OMG, they . . . read it????

Elizabeth (Bit) Meehan, PhD @elizabethbitmeehan.com · 1d

heads up #polisky - APSA moved the deadline for the Spring Centennial Center grants to March 15, 2026.

NTT, contingent, non-PhD dept faculty, and grad students are all eligible.

We've seen a MASSIVE application increase from cuts to state & federal funding.

connect.apsanet.org/centennialce...

Spring Centennial Center Research Grant Program

connect.apsanet.org

Julie Novkov @jnovkov.bsky.social · 1d

I think it's more likely about getting Susan Collins on board.

Julie Novkov @jnovkov.bsky.social · 2d

I have always admired both of the Castros so much.

Emily Farris @emayfarris.bsky.social · 2d

His mom, Rosie, was an important leader in the Chicano movement here in Texas who never minced words. He has good influences.

Julie Novkov @jnovkov.bsky.social · 2d

Many of our political elites are meeting this moment by issuing statements that appear to have been vetted with excruciating care to assure the right number of people that they care without offending too many other people. Not this guy. He's out there doing the work. Much appreciation.

Joaquin Castro @joaquincastrotx.bsky.social · 2d

I just visited Liam and his father. I also met with countless more children and families who have done nothing wrong and should not be detained.

My full update on visiting the Dilley detention center:
youtu.be/j9FcMwyWN2I?...

I just visited Liam and his father. My full update on visiting the Dilley detention center:

YouTube video by JoaquinCastroTX

youtu.be

Joaquin Castro @joaquincastrotx.bsky.social · 2d

I just visited Liam and his father. I also met with countless more children and families who have done nothing wrong and should not be detained.

My full update on visiting the Dilley detention center:
youtu.be/j9FcMwyWN2I?...

I just visited Liam and his father. My full update on visiting the Dilley detention center:

YouTube video by JoaquinCastroTX

youtu.be

Anders @derzquist.net · 2d

Definite uptick in Bluesky content aggregators taking legit clips regarding Minnesota from a few days or weeks ago and posting them without any sort of timestamp context, which gives the impression of them happening today, which then gets clicks. Be vigilant with what and how you share.

Julie Novkov @jnovkov.bsky.social · 2d

I do wonder somewhat idly if the practice of legal argument construction (searching for support for your propositions) renders it more vulnerable to AI howlers.

Owen Barcala @obarcala.bsky.social · 2d

This is notable to me because I've heard from some other lawyers that they're not worried about AI hallucinations because they only use the premium Westlaw or Lexis versions. Supposedly, they are limited to the real case databases

This clerk used Lexis+ and Lexis Protege and got 8 hallucinations

Ann M. Lipton @annmlipton.bsky.social · 3d

More hallucinated case citations:

www.law360.com/corporate/ar...

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