Lee Epstein is a political scientist whose research and teaching interests center on law and legal institutions, especially the behavior of judges. An award-winning professor, she teaches courses on the U.S. Supreme Court, constitutional law, free speech, and judicial behavior at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Epstein’s research has been frequently cited by The New York Times and other news media, and she is principal investigator of the U.S. Supreme Court Database.
Epstein is also co-editor (with Rogers Smith) of The ANNALS volume 713: Donald J. Trump, the Supreme Court, and American Constitutionalism.
Professional positions
- 2014β2022, 2024βpresent: Ethan A.H. Shepley Distinguished University Professor, Washington University in St. Louis
- 2022β2024: Charles L. and Ramona I. Hilliard Distinguished Professor of Law and University Professor of Law & Political Science, University of Southern California
- 2011β2014: Provost Professor of Law & Political Science, University of Southern California
- 2006β2011: Beatrice Kuhn Professor of Law (2006β2008) and Henry Wade Rogers Professor (2008β2011), Northwestern University
- 1991β2006: Associate professor (1991β1993), full professor (1993β1998), and Mallinckrodt Distinguished University Professor of Political Science (1998β2006) and professor of law (2000β2006), Washington University in St. Louis
- 1986β1991: Assistant (1986β1989) to associate (1989β1991) professor of political science, Southern Methodist University
Notable publications
- Epstein, Lee, Gunnar Gerndstad, UrΕ‘ka Ε adl, and Keren Weinshall, eds. 2024. The Oxford Handbook of Comparative Judicial Behaviour. Oxford University Press.
- Boyd, Christina L., Lee Epstein, and Andrew D. Martin. 2010. “Untangling the Causal Effects of Sex on Judging.” American Journal of Political Science 54(2): 389β411.
- Epstein, Lee, Daniel E. Ho, Gary King, and Jeffrey A. Segal. 2005. “The Supreme Court During Crisis: How War Affects Only Non-War Cases.” New York University Law Review 80(1): 1β116.
- Epstein, Lee, and Jack Knight. 1998. The Choices Justices Make. CQ Press.
Degrees
- PhD, political science, Emory University
- MA, political science, Emory University
- BA, political science and sociology, Emory University