JoAnne A. Epps
JoAnne A. Epps is an American law professor, legal author, and Executive Vice President and Provost of Temple University.
Epps' primary areas of expertise include criminal procedure, evidence and trial advocacy. She teaches Litigation Basics, a required course for first-year law students at Temple.
Named by National Jurist as one of the 25 most influential leaders in legal education, her commitment to curricular innovation and experiential legal education inspired the creation of the Stephen and Sandra Sheller Center for Social Justice at Temple Law School, which introduces students to the many roles that lawyers can play in securing access to civil justice.
Her students have included lawyers from China, Bosnia and Japan. She has trained Sudanese lawyers representing victims of the Darfur crisis, and taught prosecutors for the UN International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda. She has been named as a potential Barack Obama Supreme Court candidate. Before becoming Temple's Provost, she served as Dean of Temple University Beasley School of Law from 2008-2016. Epps joined the Temple Law School as a faculty member in 1985 and then served as associate dean for Academic Affairs from 1989 to 2008. Prior to coming to Temple, Epps was an Assistant U.S. Attorney in Philadelphia and a Deputy City Attorney for the City of Los Angeles. Epps received a B.A. from Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut, and a J.D. from Yale Law School.
Publications (Books, Articles, Chapters)
- "Life Skills for Happy Lawyers", July 2011
- "Passing on the Profession to Young Lawyers", 15 The Woman Advocate 4, 2010
- Classical Rhetoric and the Modern Trial Lawyer, 36 Litigation 2, with Paul Mark Sandler & Ronald J. Waicukauski, 2010
- "The 12 Secrets of Persuasive Argument", with Paul Mark Sandler & Ronald J. Waicukauski, American Bar Association, 2009
- "Lawyers as Community Builders", The Pennsylvania Lawyer, October 2009
- "A Tipping Point for Law Schools"? National Law Journal, July 20, 2009
- "100 Vignettes for Improving Trial Evidence: Making and Meeting Objections" with Anthony Bocchino and David Sonenshein,, National Institute for Trial Advocacy, 2005
- "Trial Evidence: Making And Meeting Objections" with D. Sonenshein & A. Bocchino,, National Institute for Trial Advocacy, 3rd edition: 2004; 2nd edition: 1990
- "The Winning Argument", with P.M. Sandler & R.J. Waicukauski, American Bar Association, 2001
- "LSATs Provide Narrow Gate into Legal Profession", 23 NAT'L L.J., August 28, 2000
- "Ethos and the Art of Argument" - 26 Litigation 31, with Paul Mark Sandler and Ronald J. Waicukauski, 1999
- "Clarifying the Meaning of Federal Rule of Evidence" 703, 36 B.C.L. Rev. 53, 1994
- "Passing the Confrontation Clause Stop Sign: Is All Hearsay Constitutionally Admissible"? 77 KY. L.J. 7, 1988
- Chapter: "The Bail Reform Act of 1984," Criminal Defense Techniques, 1986
Awards and recognition
- Leadership in Diversity Award from Fisher Phillips, 2016
- Industry Icon Award from Philadelphia Inquirer, November 2016.
- 2016 Spirit of Excellence Award from the American Bar Association Commission on Racial and Ethnic Diversity in the Profession.
- M. Ashley Dickerson Diversity Award by the National Association of Women Lawyers, 2015.
- Champion of Diversity Award from Pepper Hamilton LLP, 2015.
- 25 most influential people in legal education by The National Jurist magazine, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013.
- Trinity College conferred Epps with an honorary doctor of laws degree, 2015.
- U.S. Senator Robert P. Casey, Jr. honored Epps during Black History Month at the U.S. Senate, February 2015.
- One of the 100 most influential black attorneys in the U.S., Lawyers of Color magazine, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012.
- 2013 Justice Sonia Sotomayor Diversity Award by the Philadelphia Bar Association.
- Torchbearer Award for Outstanding Leadership in Law from the Women's Christian Alliance of Philadelphia, 2011 http://wpsp.blogs.brynmawr.edu/2013/07/01/philadelphia-women-welcome-institute-delegates/
- Minority Business Leader Award, 2011, Philadelphia Business Journal.
- Wiley A. Branton Award, National Bar Association, 2009
- Sandra Day O’Connor Award, Philadelphia Bar Association, 2009
- Trinity College award for career achievements in law, 2009
- Take the Lead Award by the Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania, 2009
- Women in the Profession 2007-2008 Woman of the Year Award presented by The Legal Intelligencer and Pennsylvania Law Weekly, 2008.
- Pro Bono Roll of Honor First Judicial District of Pennsylvania, 2008
- Temple University's F. Eugene Dixon, Jr. Inspiration Award, 2006
- Founders' Award, National Black Prosecutors' Association, 2005
- Honorable Robert E. Keeton Faculty Award National Institute for Trial Advocacy, 2004
- Outstanding Faculty Athletic Representative All-American Football Foundation, 2003
- Gideon Award Temple Law School, 2003
- Women Making History Award, Greater Philadelphia Chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners, 2002
- Women of Distinction, Barristers' Association of Philadelphia 2002
- 25 Women of Distinction by Philadelphia Business Journal and the National Association of Women Business Owners, 2001
- Women of Influence, The Legal Intelligencer, 2001
- Doris May Harris Image Award National Bar Association's Women Lawyers' Division 1998
- Alumni Service Award Trinity College, 1998
Membership and Service
- Chair, AALS Conference on Pretenured Faculty of Color, 2016
- Member, American Bar Association, Task Force on Recruitment and Retention of Law Students and Young Lawyers
- Member, AALS Committee on Libraries, 2013-2015
- President, Pennsylvania Women's Forum, 2013
- Conference Planner, ABA Section on Legal Education Deans’ Meeting, 2013
- Vice President, Pennsylvania Women's Forum, 2012
- Member, NAWL Foundation Board, 2012
- Member, Salvation Army of Greater Philadelphia Advisory Board, 2012–present
- Chair, Section of Litigation, Overcriminalization Task Force, American Bar Association, 2011-2013
- House Committee on Technology and Communications, American Bar Association, 2011-2012
- Legal Services Corporation Pro Bono Task Force, 2011–present
- Treasurer, Pennsylvania Women's Forum, 2011
- Independent Outside Auditor, Philadelphia Stop-and-Frisk Procedures, 2011–present
- Chair, Section of Litigation, Overcriminalization Task Force, American Bar Association, 2011-2013
- Section of Litigation, Task Force on Implicit Bias, American Bar Association, 2010-2012
- Board of Directors, Committee of Seventy, 2010-2014
- Member, Minority Bar Committee, Pennsylvania Bar Association, 2009-2014
- Commission on the Impact of the Economic Crisis on the Profession and Legal Needs, American Bar Association, 2009-2010
- Co-Chair, Steering Committee, Philadelphia District Attorney Elect R. Seth Williams’ Transition Team, November 2009-January 2010
- Co-Chair, Vision 2020 Topic Areas, Vision 2020 Meeting: "365 Days and Counting", 2009-2010
- Advisory Council, The Pennsylvania Prison Society, 2009–present
- Advisory Board, Public Interest Law Center of Philadelphia, 2009–present
- Planning Committee, AALS Section for the Law School Dean Program at the 2010 Annual Meeting, 2009
- Co-Chair, NAWL Committee for the Evaluation of Supreme Court Nominees, 2009
- Member, Advisory Board, "Women's Power Summit on Law and Leadership", 2008-2009
- Planning Committee, Honorary Co-Chair, ALI-ABA/ACLEA Critical Issues Summit, "Equipping Our Lawyers: Law School Education, Continuing Legal Education, and Legal Practice in the 21st Century", 2008-2009
- Executive Committee, AALS Evidence Section, appointed January, 2008
- Standing Committee on Constitution and Bylaws, American Bar Association, 2008-2011
- Section of Litigation Leadership, Special Committee on the Litigation Institute for Trial Training, American Bar Association, 2008-2010
- Committee of the House of Delegates, Select Committee, American Bar Association, 2008-2009
- Section of Litigation Leadership, Reserves, American Bar Association, 2008
- Section of Litigation Leadership, Segment Value Membership, American Bar Association, 2008
- Standing Committee on Constitution and Bylaws, American Bar Association, 2008-2011
- Committee of the House of Delegates, Select Committee, American Bar Association, 2008-2009
- Planning Committee, AALS June 2008 Evidence Mid-Year Meeting, 2007-2008
- Support Center for Child Advocates Volunteer, 2007–present
- Eastern District of Pennsylvania Magistrate Judge Selection Committee , 2007
- Planning Committee, Section of Litigation Annual Conference, American Bar Association, 2007-2008
- Steering Committee of Nominating Committee, American Bar Association, 2006-2008
- Pennsylvania Judicial Independence Commission, 2006–present
- Association Nominating Committee, American Bar Association, 2005-2008
- Pennsylvania Justice Commission, 2004-2005
- Standing Committee on CLE, ABA. 2004-2007
- Section of Litigation Delegate to American Bar Association House of Delegates, 2003-2003
- Outside Reviewer, Tenure cases Howard University School of Law and University of Tennessee College of Law, 2002-2003
- Section of Litigation Council, American Bar Association, 2002-2013
- Philadelphia Bar Association Committee to Promote Fairness in the Courts, 2002-2007
- Board of Directors, Women's Way of Philadelphia, 2002-2005
- The Content of our Character, Group Leader, 2002
- Speaker, LSAC Newcomers’ Workshop, 2002
- Chair, Mayor's Task Force on Police Discipline, March -November 2001
- Honorary Chair, ACLU Annual Dinner, 2001
- Section of Litigation Co-Director of Divisions, ABA, 2001-2002
- Host Committee, 2002 Mid-Year Meeting, American Bar Association, 2001-2002
- Section of Litigation Co-Director of Divisions, American Bar Association, 2000-2001
- Section of Litigation Co-Director of Divisions, ABA, 1998-2000
- President, Defender Organization of Philadelphia, 1999-2006
- ALI-ABA Committee on Continuing Professional Education, 1997-2003
- Advisory Committee, ALI-ABA Program Committee, 1996-2011
- Pennsylvania Bar Association Gender Task Force, Member and Vice-Chair, 1996-2000
- Vice President, Defender Organization of Philadelphia, 1995-1999
- Co-Chair, Section of Litigation Committee on Training the Advocate, American Bar Association, 1995-1998
- Philadelphia Bar Association Judicial Award Committee, 1995-1996
- Vice President, Board of Directors, Pennsylvania Post-Conviction Defender Organization, 1995-1997
- Race & Ethnicity Commission of the Third Circuit Task Force on Equal Treatment in the Courts; Co-Chair, Issues in Criminal Justice, 1994-1997
- Board of Directors, Pennsylvania Post-Conviction Defender Organization, 1994-1997
- Chair, SEPTA Ad Hoc Committee on the Homeless, 1993
- Barristers' Association Judicial Evaluation Committee, Co-Chair, 1993-1994
- Chair, Third Circuit Lawyers' Advisory Committee, 1992-1993
- Chair, Committee on the Board, Board of Trustees, Trinity College, 1992-1994
- Board Secretary, Defender Organization of Philadelphia, 1992-1994
- Vice Chair, Third Circuit Lawyers' Advisory Committee, 1991-1992
- Third Circuit Lawyers' Advisory Committee, 1990-1993
- Member, Presidential Search Committee, Board of Trustees, Trinity College, 1990-1991
- Chair, Committee on Student Life, Board of Trustees, Trinity College, 1990-1992
- Board of Trustees, Trinity College, 1990-1994
- Board of Directors, ACLU of Philadelphia, 1986-1989
- Board of Directors, Juvenile Law Center, 1984-1990