Kevin Cope
@kevinlcope.bsky.social
Law Professor & Political Scientist at @uvalaw.bsky.social; working on legal/political decisionmaking, courts, (im)migration, & international law. 🌍⚖️🛂👩🏻⚖️ Jurist-Derived Judicial Ideology Scores: www.judjis.org
Reposted by Kevin Cope
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.
October 30, 2025 at 5:05 PM
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.
Reposted by Kevin Cope
“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
October 1, 2025 at 2:40 PM
“An Expert-Sourced Measure of Judicial Ideology” electionlawblog.org?p=152327
Reposted by Kevin Cope
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
#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
June 6, 2025 at 1:05 PM
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
#Democracy #USPol #Judiciary #USConstitution
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.
“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
May 26, 2025 at 2:31 PM
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.
Reposted by Kevin Cope
For those assuming this is just attempt to summarize the holding of U.S. v. Snyder (2024) . . . that's not even what the Court held. "Bribes," as prohibited by 18 U.S.C. sec. 666, require a "quid pro quo"; at no point did the Court suggest that "corrupt" carried that same meaning.
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.
May 12, 2025 at 3:20 PM
For those assuming this is just attempt to summarize the holding of U.S. v. Snyder (2024) . . . that's not even what the Court held. "Bribes," as prohibited by 18 U.S.C. sec. 666, require a "quid pro quo"; at no point did the Court suggest that "corrupt" carried that same meaning.
Reposted by Kevin Cope
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
May 8, 2025 at 1:54 PM
Prof. @kevinlcope.bsky.social discusses #SCOTUS rulings that govern students’ First Amendment rights.
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.
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
May 7, 2025 at 2:04 PM
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.
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...
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
April 28, 2025 at 10:15 PM
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...
The @richmond.com Times-Dispatch asked me whether that’s unconstitutional. Short answer: most certainly yes. richmond.com/news/local/g...
Reposted by Kevin Cope
👉 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...
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
April 21, 2025 at 1:00 PM
👉 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...
slate.com/news-and-pol...
Reposted by Kevin Cope
April 17, 2025 at 10:55 PM
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
April 17, 2025 at 9:03 PM
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
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...
April 6, 2025 at 10:25 PM
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...
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.
It's great to see so many law colleagues speaking up for the rule of law & the legal profession.
April 3, 2025 at 11:07 PM
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.
It's great to see so many law colleagues speaking up for the rule of law & the legal profession.
The National Law Journal gives my take on Trump's coming impact on the Third Circuit. Also has some new @judjis.bsky.social data! www.judjis.org
www.law.com/nationallawj...
www.law.com/nationallawj...
Trump Gets Second Shot at Flipping the 3rd Circuit. What Might its Future Look Like?
Gregg Nunziata, executive director of the Society for the Rule of Law, said there are open questions about what the future of the court will look like, given uncertainties about Trump’s judicial selection approach.
www.law.com
February 13, 2025 at 5:47 AM
The National Law Journal gives my take on Trump's coming impact on the Third Circuit. Also has some new @judjis.bsky.social data! www.judjis.org
www.law.com/nationallawj...
www.law.com/nationallawj...
Reposted by Kevin Cope
~20% of Twitter users authored ~80% of uncivil tweets, with political incivility showing a homophilous network structure and being more prominent in politically competitive geographic regions, finds Pendzel, @alonzoizner.bsky.social et al. aclanthology.org/2024.emnlp-m...
December 11, 2024 at 3:15 AM
~20% of Twitter users authored ~80% of uncivil tweets, with political incivility showing a homophilous network structure and being more prominent in politically competitive geographic regions, finds Pendzel, @alonzoizner.bsky.social et al. aclanthology.org/2024.emnlp-m...
Reposted by Kevin Cope
The consequence for not outlining at the outset of a legal writing project is that you will still have to outline it - only later, when it’s full of words.
December 10, 2024 at 2:41 AM
The consequence for not outlining at the outset of a legal writing project is that you will still have to outline it - only later, when it’s full of words.
Reposted by Kevin Cope
I know that some people aren’t interested in hearing any thoughts with which they disagree.
It can be unpleasant.
But not everyone feels that way. Some of us want to hear opposing views because it allows us to test whether our own beliefs and opinions are correct.
It can be unpleasant.
But not everyone feels that way. Some of us want to hear opposing views because it allows us to test whether our own beliefs and opinions are correct.
On the bookshelf behind my desk, there's a section that has a bunch of books by Carl Schmitt.
Friends, I do not like Carl Schmitt.
Friends, I do not like Carl Schmitt.
December 8, 2024 at 3:46 AM
I know that some people aren’t interested in hearing any thoughts with which they disagree.
It can be unpleasant.
But not everyone feels that way. Some of us want to hear opposing views because it allows us to test whether our own beliefs and opinions are correct.
It can be unpleasant.
But not everyone feels that way. Some of us want to hear opposing views because it allows us to test whether our own beliefs and opinions are correct.
This is a mistake: secondary boycotts like @jessothomson.bsky.social’s exacerbate the Bluesky echo chamber and reduce the quality of discourse here. (To be clear, @jessesingal.com’s documented views on transgender issues are moderate, or even center-left.)
December 7, 2024 at 6:29 PM
This is a mistake: secondary boycotts like @jessothomson.bsky.social’s exacerbate the Bluesky echo chamber and reduce the quality of discourse here. (To be clear, @jessesingal.com’s documented views on transgender issues are moderate, or even center-left.)
Reposted by Kevin Cope
I saw that story and I have to say that I find the idea that Antonin Scalia is Donald Trump‘s judicial hero almost as preposterous as the idea that Donald Trump has a judicial hero other than the last judge to find/hold Trump should dodge any consequences for his misdeeds
November 25, 2024 at 3:25 PM
I saw that story and I have to say that I find the idea that Antonin Scalia is Donald Trump‘s judicial hero almost as preposterous as the idea that Donald Trump has a judicial hero other than the last judge to find/hold Trump should dodge any consequences for his misdeeds
Reposted by Kevin Cope
The president-elect lacks shame and most R Senators now put party over country. BUT ... the mere fact that the Senate must confirm (putting aside recess shenanigans) creates attention and space for debate about nominee fitness. Gaetz should just be the beginning, given the clown car of nominees.
Thinking a lot about Federalist 76 today. Hamilton didn't really anticipate the age of shamelessness and dishonor.
November 21, 2024 at 5:47 PM
The president-elect lacks shame and most R Senators now put party over country. BUT ... the mere fact that the Senate must confirm (putting aside recess shenanigans) creates attention and space for debate about nominee fitness. Gaetz should just be the beginning, given the clown car of nominees.
Some exciting news: today my UVA Law faculty colleagues voted to recommend me for tenure. Hoping to spend many more years in this community of brilliant scholars and students!
November 20, 2024 at 12:25 AM
Some exciting news: today my UVA Law faculty colleagues voted to recommend me for tenure. Hoping to spend many more years in this community of brilliant scholars and students!
Reposted by Kevin Cope
RFK Jr. is one of the best arguments for the First Amendment I have ever seen. He is a daily reminder that you and your friends won't be the people who decide what is and is not true. It’s the First Amendment that lets the truth keep talking anyway.
November 15, 2024 at 2:55 PM
RFK Jr. is one of the best arguments for the First Amendment I have ever seen. He is a daily reminder that you and your friends won't be the people who decide what is and is not true. It’s the First Amendment that lets the truth keep talking anyway.