John Cotter
@drjohncotter.bsky.social
2K followers 1.4K following 1K posts

Senior Lecturer in Law at Keele University, England. Research in EU constitutional law, especially defence of democracy, and impeachment. Irishman living in Cheshire. Views are my own.

John Lambert Cotter was an American archaeologist whose career spanned more than sixty years and included archaeological work with the Works Progress Administration, numerous posts with the National Park Service, and contributions to the development of historical archaeology in the United States. .. more

Political science 29%
Materials science 18%
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drjohncotter.bsky.social
Last mention of my most recent article on how - as a last resort - EU law can be (re-)-interpreted to protect the democratic legitimacy of its legislature in the face of Member State autocratisation.
drjohncotter.bsky.social
My latest article ‘Democracy Manifest? Ensuring the EU Legislature’s Democratic Legitimacy
in the Face of National-Level Autocratisation’ has just been published online and open access in European Papers: www.europeanpapers.eu/en/system/fi...
www.europeanpapers.eu

drjohncotter.bsky.social
You know, if we want to go down that road.

drjohncotter.bsky.social
I have come across many people from the North West of England over the years in Anglesey and Gwynedd who I wouldn’t describe as having an A-level standard of Welsh.
verfassungsblog.de
EU Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi faces allegations of involvement in espionage by Hungary against the European Union.

ALBERTO ALEMANNO (@alemanno.bsky.social) explains why the Várhelyi Affair is a test of institutional self-defence – and how the EU can respond.

verfassungsblog.de/varhelyi-com...
Quote: “The Várhelyi affair poses a question the Union has never had to answer so starkly: What happens when a member state treats the institutions it helped create not as a common project, but as hostile territory to be infiltrated and undermined?”

drjohncotter.bsky.social
I had the honour of spending a couple of hours with him at his home in Oxford a few years ago, where we discussed Llewellyn and much else. A true gentleman. May he rest in peace.

drjohncotter.bsky.social
Very sad to hear of the passing of Prof. William Twining. My PhD and monograph on the preliminary reference procedure benefitted greatly from his work on Karl Llewellyn (among his other achievements in jurisprudence, he helped to translate his old mentor Llewellyn’s ideas into something far clearer

drjohncotter.bsky.social
It’s particularly harsh on someone like Paddy Hillery in particular.

drjohncotter.bsky.social
over simple, plain, and quiet respect for the confines of the office.

drjohncotter.bsky.social
Ranking Presidents in any system is always an unserious game, but this one (in the context of a non-executive presidency) seems to fall victim to the same problem as most US Presidential rankings: it rewards energy and pushing constitutional boundaries…

www.irishtimes.com/politics/202...
All the presidents of Ireland so far, ranked from nine to one
Each office holder has brought a particular emphasis and Michael D Higgins has followed suit
www.irishtimes.com
nicholasgrossman.bsky.social
No institutional design can overcome a lawbreaking president, a Congress defending lawbreaking and forfeiting its own power, a Supreme Court that pretends legal text doesn’t count to facilitate lawbreaking, and a citizenry that votes for all that.
Need at least one that wants rule of law. Maybe two.

Reposted by John L. Cotter

drjohncotter.bsky.social
Catherine Connolly rickrolls people unironically in 2025. #smearthebejaysus

drjohncotter.bsky.social
At the check out in busy canteens, Catherine Connolly never slides her tray up to allow the person behind her in the queue to put their tray down, regardless of how much they have on their trays. #smearthebejaysus

drjohncotter.bsky.social
Catherine Connolly was once put on tea duty during a funeral: she never enquired “weak or strong”, splashed copious amounts of milk into each cup straight from the drum, never stirred, and didn’t provide any spoons. #smearthebejaysus

drjohncotter.bsky.social
Catherine Connolly’s favourite Beatles album is Yellow Submarine and she has said that side 2 of that album is the band’s best work. She also refers to the seasons after season 10 of the The Simpsons the show’s “mature period”. #smearthebejaysus

drjohncotter.bsky.social
I would’ve thought that a blue team that keeps chopping and changing its managers and yet winning inexplicably (often with mediocre players) would be a model for the Conservatives.
oliverbullough.bsky.social
Looking like Chelsea FC? So, previously owned by a Russian oligarch, but now in hock to American hedge funds?

Reposted by John L. Cotter

oliverbullough.bsky.social
Looking like Chelsea FC? So, previously owned by a Russian oligarch, but now in hock to American hedge funds?

drjohncotter.bsky.social
I have also written an article on impeachment in the EU context to be published in this year’s CYELS, available open access here: www.cambridge.org/core/service...
www.cambridge.org

Reposted by Tobias Lock

drjohncotter.bsky.social
Anyone interested in the power of the Commission President to compel the resignation of a Commissioner can read my and @grahambutler.bsky.social’s article published in the CMLRev in 2024. A pre-publication version can be accessed here: keele-repository.worktribe.com/OutputFile/7...

drjohncotter.bsky.social
He has a referee for next year’s application though, I suppose.

drjohncotter.bsky.social
I wonder if he had got this endorsement from world-renowned peace expert Vladimir Putin before the voting whether it might have swayed the Nobel Committee. I guess we’ll never know.
paleofuture.bsky.social
“Thank you to President Putin!”
Thank you to President Putin!
President Putin responds to President Trump not winning the Nobel
Peace Prize:
"This award lost credibility. The committee discussed the prize for people who have done nothing for the world."
"He solves complex problems, crises that last for decades."
@SMOTRI_MEDIA

drjohncotter.bsky.social
Anyone taking bets on Putin re-establishing the Lenin Prize to award it to Trump?
paleofuture.bsky.social
“Thank you to President Putin!”
Thank you to President Putin!
President Putin responds to President Trump not winning the Nobel
Peace Prize:
"This award lost credibility. The committee discussed the prize for people who have done nothing for the world."
"He solves complex problems, crises that last for decades."
@SMOTRI_MEDIA

Reposted by Steve Peers

drjohncotter.bsky.social
I wonder whether Trump is currently being briefed on whether the Nobel Committee uses Dominion Voting Systems.

drjohncotter.bsky.social
So, not Donald Trump then.
reuters.com
'When authoritarians seize power, it is crucial to recognize courageous defenders of freedom who rise and resist,' the Norwegian Nobel Committee said as it announced Maria Corina Machado as the winner of the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize
reuters.com
'When authoritarians seize power, it is crucial to recognize courageous defenders of freedom who rise and resist,' the Norwegian Nobel Committee said as it announced Maria Corina Machado as the winner of the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize