Daniel Epps will be installed as the Howard and Caroline Cayne Distinguished Professor of Law at WashU Law on February 26 in the Bryan Cave Moot Courtroom in Anheuser-Busch Hall.
Professor Epps is a nationally recognized scholar whose work sits at the intersection of constitutional law, federal courts, and criminal procedure. His scholarship has appeared in leading law reviews, including Harvard Law Review, Yale Law Journal, Columbia Law Review, and Michigan Law Review, among others, and his commentary for broader audiences has been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, and The Atlantic.
A prominent expert on the U.S. Supreme Court, Epps is frequently quoted in the media and is widely known for his influential work on Supreme Court reform, including a restructuring proposal that helped shape national policy discussions. He co-hosts the podcast Divided Argument, which examines the court’s work, and has litigated before the Supreme Court, including serving as co-counsel in Ocasio vs. United States and drafting the successful certiorari petition and merits briefing in Walden v. Fiore. He previously served as special counsel to Senator Sheldon Whitehouse during the confirmation of Justice Amy Coney Barrett.
At WashU Law, Epps is a devoted and respected professor, known for rigorous, engaging courses, lively classroom discussion, and a commitment to helping students develop their lawyerly skills in constitutional law, federal courts, and appellate advocacy.
“Dan Epps embodies the very best of WashU Law through rigorous scholarship, intellectual generosity, and a deep commitment to the practice and study of the law,” said Stefanie Lindquist, the Nickerson Dean and a professor at WashU Law. “His work has shaped national conversations while enriching our classrooms and community, and it is a pleasure to celebrate his installation as the Howard and Caroline Cayne Distinguished Professor of Law.”
Epps earned his bachelor’s degree summa cum laude from Duke University and his juris doctor magna cum laude from Harvard Law School, where he served as articles co-chair of the Harvard Law Review. He clerked for Judge J. Harvie Wilkinson III and former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Anthony M. Kennedy before practicing as an appellate specialist in Washington, D.C. Prior to joining WashU Law in 2016, Epps served as a Climenko Fellow and lecturer on law at Harvard Law School.
Caroline Cayne and Howard N. Cayne, JD ’79, honorary emeritus trustee
Howard and Caroline Cayne are longtime advocates of the School of Law and deeply committed partners in WashU’s mission. They established the Howard and Caroline Cayne Distinguished Professorship in Law in recognition of the vital role exceptional faculty played in Howard’s legal education. The distinguished professorship helps ensure continued excellence at the School of Law.
Howard Cayne is a retired partner of Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer, where he counseled financial and other institutions on a broad range of litigation, regulatory, compliance, and transactional matters. He has played a prominent role in much of the most significant federal banking litigation of the past four decades, and he has served as trial counsel in a number of cases resulting in hundreds of millions of dollars in total judgments against the United States. Before joining Arnold & Porter in 1984, Howard served as a senior attorney in the Enforcement and Compliance Division of the Comptroller of the Currency.
Among the wide array of actions Howard led over the course of his career, the one he is most proud of is the successful representation of fellow alumnus Andrew McCabe, JD ’93, former acting and deputy director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case involved claims of wrongful termination and resulted in a settlement that, in the words of Mr. McCabe, “encourages the men and women of the FBI to continue to protect the American people … without fear of political retaliation.”
In addition to their professorship support, the Caynes have established and contributed to numerous funds honoring law school faculty and other members of the WashU community. Those honored include Michael M. Greenfield, the George Alexander Madill Professor of Contracts & Commercial Law Emeritus; Richard H. Helmholz, former professor of law; Kent D. Syverud, former dean of the School of Law; Edward F. Lawlor, former dean of the Brown School; and Dolores Pesce, the Avis Blewett Professor Emerita of Music.
Beyond their financial support, Howard and Caroline have been influential volunteers within the WashU community. In 2007, Howard joined the School of Law National Council and served as chair from 2014 to 2024. He was elected to WashU’s Board of Trustees in 2010. The School of Law has recognized Howard with a Distinguished Alumni Award in 2017 and the Dean’s Medal in 2024.
Caroline, a proud University of Florida Gator and alumna of George Washington University’s graduate school, has been a strong advocate for WashU and active community volunteer, serving on the Parents Council. She also serves alongside Howard on the board of visitors for Walnut Hill School for the Arts, an independent, co-educational board and day secondary school considered one of the premier schools for the arts in the world. She deeply values the exceptional education WashU provides and continues to champion the university’s mission and values.
The couple has three children; Allison Cayne, AB ’07, MSW ’17; Elizabeth Rosen, AB ’11; and Brian Cayne, and five grandchildren: Lee, Teddy, Palmer, Elliott, and Sam. The family has deep ties to WashU, so much so that both daughters married WashU Medicine faculty. Daniel Ludwig (Allison) completed his radiology residency (2019) and fellowship (2020) at the School of Medicine, and Max Rosen (Elizabeth) AB ’10, MD ’15, earned both his undergraduate and medical degrees from WashU; both are currently assistant and associate professors at the medical school.
