Eugene Volokh

Eugene Volokh is an American legal scholar and commentator renowned for his expertise in First Amendment law and freedom of speech. A professor at the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law, he is the founder and a principal author of the influential legal blog The Volokh Conspiracy. His scholarship and commentary frequently address intersections of constitutional law, gun rights, religious freedom, and technology law.

Biography

Born in Kyiv when it was part of the Soviet Union, his family emigrated to the United States when he was a child, settling in Los Angeles. He displayed prodigious academic talent, entering University of California, Los Angeles at age fifteen and subsequently graduating from the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law. Before his academic career, he served as a law clerk for Judge Alex Kozinski on the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and for Justice Sandra Day O'Connor on the Supreme Court of the United States. These formative experiences at pivotal federal judiciary institutions deeply shaped his legal thinking and career trajectory.

Academic career

He joined the faculty of the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law in 1994 and was appointed the Gary T. Schwartz Professor of Law. His teaching responsibilities encompass courses on First Amendment law, religious freedom, and the law of firearms regulation. He is a prolific author of academic articles published in leading journals such as the Harvard Law Review, Stanford Law Review, and the University of Chicago Law Review. His work is regularly cited in briefs before the Supreme Court of the United States and by federal judges, including in landmark decisions like District of Columbia v. Heller.

Legal scholarship and commentary

His scholarly work is characterized by a libertarian-leaning, originalist methodology, often focusing on textual and historical analysis of the United States Constitution. A central pillar of his research involves defending broad protections for freedom of speech, including for hate speech and commercial speech, as well as exploring conflicts between anti-discrimination law and religious liberty. He has written extensively on the Second Amendment, contributing to the intellectual foundation for its recognition as an individual right. His commentary extends to emerging issues in cyberlaw, such as Section 230 liability and social media regulation.

The Volokh Conspiracy blog

He founded The Volokh Conspiracy in 2002, which rapidly became a preeminent forum for detailed, real-time legal analysis. The blog features contributions from several law professors and practitioners, dissecting recent court rulings, legislation, and legal scholarship. Known for its intellectual depth and ideological diversity, the blog's influence extends to the media, the academy, and the judiciary. In 2014, the blog's entire archive and ongoing publication were acquired by The Washington Post, significantly expanding its readership and mainstream media footprint while maintaining its editorial independence.

Notable legal cases and advocacy

Beyond scholarship, he has engaged directly with the legal system through amicus curiae briefs and advocacy. He has submitted briefs to the Supreme Court of the United States in pivotal cases such as McDonald v. City of Chicago, Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission, and 303 Creative LLC v. Elenis. He served as co-counsel in cases like Stormans v. Selecky, which involved religious objections to dispensing emergency contraception. His advocacy organization, the UCLA Scott and Cyan Banister First Amendment Clinic, which he directs, provides pro bono legal representation focused on free speech and press freedom issues.

Category:American legal scholars Category:American bloggers Category:University of California, Los Angeles faculty