Blake Emerson

Blake Emerson is a Professor of Law at UCLA School of Law and holds a courtesy appointment as Professor of Political Science. He joined UCLA in 2018 after serving as a Research Fellow at the Administrative Conference of the United States. His research focuses on administrative law, structural constitutional law, and political theory, emphasizing the democratic foundations of the U.S. regulatory state.

• Education: B.A. (Williams College, 2007), M.A./M.Phil./Ph.D. (Yale University, 2013-2016), J.D. (Yale Law School, 2017)

His work examines how federal agencies interpret civil rights and implement public values, advocating for inclusive and reasoned policymaking. Key publications include The Public’s Law: Origins and Architecture of Progressive Democracy (Oxford, 2019) and articles in top journals like the Yale Law Journal and Georgetown Law Journal. He has also co-authored reports on federal agency practices and contributes to legal blogs.

Emerson received the 2021 Emerging Scholar Award from the AALS Administrative Law Section and the 2025 Early Career Scholars Medal from the American Law Institute. He teaches courses on torts, administrative law, and executive power.