[1] In June 1859 he was nominated by Alvinza Hayward,[2] also of Amador County, to be the candidate of the Democratic Lecompton Party for associate justice of the Supreme Court of California.

[5][6][7] He became Chief Justice on March 11, 1863, filling the vacancy after President Abraham Lincoln appointed Stephen J.

[8] Cope himself left the court at the end of that year when a constitutional amendment required new judicial elections.

[10] In 1883, Cope became the California Reporter of Decisions, and in March 1885 was appointed to a four-year term as commissioner of the Supreme Court.

[11] After leaving the court, Cope returned to private practice[12] until about 1893, when he retired to Contra Costa County, where he raised nuts and fruit.