FIU Faculty Senate Urged Leave for Law School Dean
The vote followed a federal judge's decision to sanction Daniel Epstein for his conduct as an attorney.
Updated on Oct. 13, 2026 in Law
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Should a university dean facing professional misconduct sanctions be required to step down from their role?
FIU faculty members have asked the university to place interim law school dean Daniel Epstein on leave while he challenges professional misconduct findings. The move comes after a federal judge barred Epstein from practicing in the Southern District of Florida for one year.
Why it matters
Faculty representatives raised concerns that having a dean under sanction for professional misconduct harms the 25-year-old law school's reputation. The university administration now faces pressure to act while Epstein pursues an appeal in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.
The Faculty Senate approved the measure with only two dissenting votes. The underlying litigation that led to these sanctions involved a proposed $1.8 billion fund, though the future of Epstein's tenure remains undecided pending the outcome of his federal appeal.
The players
Daniel Epstein
He is the interim dean of the Florida International University College of Law currently facing professional sanctions.
Kathleen Williams
She is the federal judge who barred Epstein from practicing in the Southern District of Florida for one year.
James Uthmeier
He is the Florida Attorney General who filed a brief supporting Epstein's appeal.
Donald Trump
He is the current President of the United States who previously filed the lawsuit that led to these attorney sanctions.
FIU Faculty Senate
This is the governing faculty body that voted to request the dean's leave.
The details
During their Tuesday meeting, faculty members moved to request that Epstein be placed on leave until he is cleared of misconduct. The sanctions against him involve a denial of pro hac vice status in the Southern District of Florida, stemming from his role as an attorney for Donald Trump. While the U.S. Department of Justice and Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier have filed briefs supporting his appeal, the Senate maintains he should step aside for the duration of the legal process.
Timeline
October 13, 2026: The Faculty Senate passed the statement during a meeting.
October 6, 2026: The Florida Attorney General filed an amicus brief supporting the appeal.
Summer 2026: A federal court sanctioned Daniel Epstein for professional conduct.
May 2026: Donald Trump withdrew the lawsuit that led to the attorney misconduct findings.
Beyond the 305
This dispute marks a localized extension of ongoing professional scrutiny stemming from legal actions tied to the January 6, 2021, riots at the U.S. Capitol. It highlights the continued fallout as ten GOP state attorneys general join in supporting the appeal of the sanctioned attorney.
Students and faculty at the FIU law school are waiting to see how the university administration responds to the Senate vote. The outcome will set the leadership trajectory for the school while the dean continues to appeal the federal court's sanctions.
The takeaway
The FIU Faculty Senate has set a clear expectation that the dean should remain on leave until the misconduct findings are overturned. Readers should watch for an official statement from the university administration regarding whether they will honor the Senate request.
Further reading
For more on local judicial and legislative developments, visit Law.
Live Poll
Should a university dean facing professional misconduct sanctions be required to step down from their role?
