Jules Epstein is the Edward D. Ohlbaum Professor of Law and Director of Advocacy Programs at Temple University Beasley School of Law. He is a former partner at the highly respected Philadelphia criminal defense and civil rights firm of Kairys, Rudovsky, Messing, Feinberg, & Lin LLP, where he remains of counsel. Professor Epstein teaches criminal law and evidence courses.
A 1978 graduate of the University of Pennsylvania School of Law, Professor Epstein began his legal career with the Defender Association of Philadelphia. He was an adjunct professor at the University of Pennsylvania from 1988 through 2006, has taught in and prepared materials for countless continuing legal education programs, and has authored dozens of articles and book chapters on criminal law and evidence topics. He served as a Professor of Law and the Director of the Taishoff Advocacy, Technology, and Public Service Institute at Widener School of Law before joining the faculty at Temple.
Professor Epstein’s work has concentrated, in recent years, on capital case, eyewitness, and forensics issues as well as trial advocacy. He has taught death penalty law nationally to judges and attorneys, and continues to occasionally handle or consult on capital cases and wrongful conviction cases at the appellate and post-conviction stages. In the area of eyewitness evidence, he has lectured, authored both articles and book chapters, and served as an expert witness.
Nationally, Professor Epstein served as a member of the National Commission on Forensic Science from 2013 until the Commission’s demise in 2017. His column on forensic science issues is published quarterly by the CRIMINAL JUSTICE magazine of the American Bar Association.
In Pennsylvania, Professor Epstein has served on a commission addressing issues in cases of wrongful convictions and is extensively involved in continuing judicial education across the Commonwealth.
In the area of Evidence law, Professor Epstein has co-authored two texts: UNDERSTANDING EVIDENCE, 6TH EDITION, CAROLINA ACADEMIC PRESS, (2023); and PRINCIPLES OF EVIDENCE, 7TH EDITION, CAROLINA ACADEMIC PRESS, (2019). In the past decade he has argued numerous Evidence issues before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. In the field of Trial Advocacy, Professor Epstein co-authors the blog BRAIN LESSONS – https://law.temple.edu/aer/category/brain-lessons/ – and has been lead author/editor and the COLLECTIVE WISDOM series of white papers published by NITA.
In 2026, Professor Epstein received the Maureen Rowley Award from the Pennsylvania Innocence Project.
Education
Research & Teaching Areas
Areas of Expertise
Selected Publications
Publications and Media AppearancesAwards and Recognition
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Maureen Rowley Award (2026) -
Outstanding Faculty Award (2015) -
Charles Gelso President’s Award (2014) -
Liberty Award (2013) -
Lindback Award for Distinguished Teaching (2011)