FIU Law's new dean is a 'Trump lawyer.' Here's what to know | Opinion

Florida International University’s pick of Daniel Epstein as interim law dean has drawn faculty pushback over his conservative ties. But opinion columnist Mary Anna Mancuso says the choice could pay off big for the school — and critics are missing the point.

FULL STORY: A ‘Trump lawyer’ picked as dean of FIU Law could pay off big | Opinion

Here are key takeaways:

• Mancuso says that Epstein shouldn’t be judged on politics. He previously worked as an attorney for President Donald Trump and held a leadership role at America First Legal, the conservative nonprofit founded by top Trump advisor Stephen Miller.
• Faculty concerns about the search process — the Miami Herald reported Epstein wasn’t a finalist — miss what matters. Deans are hired to build institutions, not referee political debates.
• Epstein’s cover letter, obtained by the Herald, lays out an ambitious vision: top 35 national rankings within five years, elite firm placement, federal clerkships and serious fundraising.
• Mancuso argues Epstein’s conservative connections are an asset, not a liability. In a Republican-led state shaping national legal debates, those relationships can deliver internships and career opportunities for students.
• Exposure to competing constitutional philosophies makes stronger lawyers. Universities should pick leaders who strengthen institutions — not ones who pass political litmus tests.

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