Steven B. Epstein
Top rated DUI-DWI attorney in Garden City, New York
Barket Epstein Kearon Aldea & LoTurco, LLP
Practice areas: DUI-DWI, Criminal Defense; view more
Licensed in New York since: 1993
Education: Pace University Law School
Selected to Super Lawyers: 2014 - 2025 Call today:
516-855-3577
Free Consultation Barket Epstein Kearon Aldea & LoTurco, LLP
666 Old Country RdSuite 700
Garden City, NY 11530 Visit website
Details 
Steven B. Epstein is a founding partner at Barket Epstein Kearon Aldea & LoTurco, LLP, located in Garden City, New York, where he focuses his practice on criminal defense, with a particular emphasis on DUI-related matters. With decades of experience in the courtroom, he is widely recognized for his thorough understanding of complex criminal cases and his dedication to protecting the rights of his clients.
Mr. Epstein has built a reputation for providing strategic and effective legal representation to individuals facing serious charges. His approach combines detailed case analysis with strong advocacy, allowing him to guide clients through each stage of the legal process. Whether handling DUI offenses or broader criminal defense matters, he remains committed to achieving fair and practical outcomes.
Mr. Epstein earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in speech communications, graduating cum laude, from the State University of New York at Oneonta in 1989. He went on to receive his Juris Doctor, graduating cum laude, from Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University in 1992.
Admitted to practice in New York and Connecticut, Mr. Epstein is also admitted before the U.S. District Courts for the Eastern, Northern and Southern Districts of New York, as well as the Supreme Court of the United States. He is a member of several professional organizations, including the New York State Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, where he received the President’s Award in 2021.
In addition to his private practice, Mr. Epstein has played a significant role in the legal and forensic science communities. He was appointed by Governor Kathy Hochul to serve on the New York State Commission on Forensic Science, reflecting his knowledge and leadership in the field. He is also actively involved in professional organizations, serving as the Northeast regional director and a faculty member for the National College for DUI Defense. His commitment to legal education extends to his work as an instructor with The Legal Aid Society.
Practice areas
Criminal Defense: DUI/DWI, Criminal DefenseFocus areas
Arrest & Arraignment, Criminal Law, DUI/DWI, Drug & Alcohol Violations, Motor Vehicle Offenses
- 40% Criminal Defense: DUI/DWI
- 60% Criminal Defense
First Admitted: 1993, New York
Professional Webpage: https://www.barketepstein.com/our-team/steven-b-epstein/
Bar / Professional Activity
- Board Member of National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, 2020
- United States District Court S.D.N.Y., N.D.N.Y. and E.D.N.Y, 1993
- United States Supreme Court, 1993
- Connecticut Bar, 1992
- New York State Bar, First Department, 1992
- New York State Bar Association
- National Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys
- United States Department of Justice, appointed peer reviewer
- Member of the New York State Bar Association Task Force on Modernizing Criminal Courts
- Member of the New York State Commission on Forensic Science
- President of New York State Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, 2020
- National College for DUI Defense
Special Licenses / Certifications
- Successfully completed the NHTSA DWI/SFST practitioner course, a 24 hour course recognized by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration., 2016
Pro bono / Community Service
- How to Try Your First DWI Case, Korean-American Lawyers Association of Greater New York July, 2004
- Update on DWI Defense, Bronx County Bar Association January 2007
- Update on DWI Defense, Sullivan County Bar Association January 2007
- Cross Examination of the DWI Breath Technician, Bronx County Bar Association November 2008
- Leandra’s Law Update, Bronx County Bar Association March 2010
- DWI Refusal Hearings, Bronx County Bar Association March 2010
- Cross Examination of the DWI Breath Technician Assigned Counsel Plan First Dept. November 2010
- The Defense of the DWI Case, The Legal Aid Society of New York – 1998 – Present
- First Annual Man vs. Machine: The Intoxilyzer 5000en, The Legal Aid Society of New York – May, 2011
- Cross Examination of the Intoxilyzer 5000EN Operator, Nassau County Criminal Court Bar Association – May 10, 2012
- Jury Selection in the DWI Case, Bronx County Bar Association – May 23, 2012
- Second Annual Man vs. Machine Seminar: Attacking Portable Breath Tests, Brooklyn, New York (December 7, 2012)
- Cross to Kill: Cross of the Breathalyzer Technician, New York Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (April 26, 2013)
- The Intoxilyzer 5000 on trial, Nassau Academy of Law (October 10 and 15, 2013)
- Advanced Issues in Breath Testing, Nassau County Legal Aid Society, July 9, 2014
- Third Annual Man vs. Machine: The Breath Test Case on Trial Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft, NY, NY. July 10, 2014
- Handling the DWI Case in New York – Commercial Licenses, Underage Offenders and Out-of State Defendants. New York State Bar Association, October 6, 2014
- Telling the Story in a DWI Case, New York State Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Hudson Valley Fall Trainer, Poughkeepsie, N.Y. November 14, 2014
- The Science of Breath Testing and the Tools to Defeat it, Pace Law School, White Plains, N.Y. November 18, 2014.
- The DWI Case: From Arrest to Trial. The Legal Aid Society, Criminal Defense Division, New York, N.Y. December 3, 2014
- The PBT: How to Keep it Out of Evidence and What to do When it Comes in. The Bronx Bar Association, Bronx, N.Y. December 10, 2014
- The PBT: How to Keep it Out of Evidence and What to do When it Comes in. The Assigned Counsel Plan, Appellate Division First Department. New York. N.Y. December 18, 2014
- Presenting Complex Scientific Evidence in Simple Terms to a Jury: Mastering Scientific Evidence in DUI/DWI Cases, National College for DUI Defense and Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association. New Orleans, LA March 26-28, 2015.
- Handling the DWI Case From Arraignment Through Hearings, The Bronx Defenders, Bronx, New York, April 17, 2015.
- Three Part DWI Series: Storytelling in DWI Cases (April 7, 2015); PBT-Keeping the Preliminary Breath Test Out and What To Do If It Comes In (April 8, 2015); and Man v. Machine the Intoxilyzer 5000EN (May 4, 2015 ), New York County Bar Association.
- DWI 101: What to do in the Midnight Hour, Columbian Lawyers Association, New York, NY, May 6, 2015.
- Handling the DWI Case From Arraignment Through Hearings, The Bronx Defenders, Bronx, New York, July 7, 2015.
- Presenting Complex Scientific Evidence to Laymen, Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, Dallas, Tx., October 1, 2015.
- Meeting to Review Drug Recognition and Impairment research, Department of Justice, Washington, D.C., August 24, 2015.
- The Nuts and Bolts of Handling a DWI Case: Handling the Probable Cause Hearing, New York State Bar Association, New York and Albany, NY, October 7 & 21, 2015.
- Fourth Annual Man vs. Machine: Blood, Sweat and Breath, St. Francis College, Brooklyn, NY November 3, 2015. Lectured on The Basics of Blood Testing and Gas Chromatography and Concepts Behind the Cross Examination of the Breath Test Operator.
- Defending DWI Cases – The Critical Issues “Breath Test Issues”, New York State Bar Association, September 8, 14 and 28, 2017, Buffalo, New York City and Albany.
- Cannabis and Cars: What you Need to Know to Defend a Marijuana DUI Case. “Where the Government is Taking Us,” National College of DUI Defense, Marina Del Ray, California, January 22, 2016.
- “10 Concepts You Need to Understand to do a Cross Examination of the Breath Test Operator in a DUI Case” Lawline.com, January 29, 2016, Webcast.
- Cross to Kill 2016: “10 Concepts You Need to Understand to do a Cross Examination of the Breath Test Operator in a DUI Case.” New York State Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, April 15, 2016, New York, New York.
- “DWI and the Law: What to do in the Midnight Hour,” Tannenbaum Helpern Syracuse & Hirschtritt LLP, April 21, 2016.
- Cutting Edge Criminal Defense: “The Basics of Gas Chromatography” New York State Defenders Association, May 6, 2016, Binghamton, New York.
- DWI on Trial – Big Apple XVI, “The Intoxilyzer 5000 – What You Need to Know,” New York State Bar Association, May 18, 2016, New York, NY.
- The Basics of Gas Chromatography and Why it is Relevant to DWI Cases, Bronx Bar Association, May 25, 2016.
- National College for DUI Defense, Summer Session 2016 at Harvard Law School, “Just Say No to Losing Your Client’s Commercial or Professional License”, National College for DUI Defense, July 21-23, 2016 at Harvard Law School, Cambridge, MA.
- The Pathway of a DWI Prosecution, The New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct, October 18, 2016, New York, NY
- Presenting Scientific Evidence to Laypeople, Texas Tech University School of Law, October 28, 2016, Lubbock, TX.
- On the Road Again: Challenging the Lifetime Driver’s License Revocation, Bronx County Bar Association, November 16, 2016.
- Blood and Breath Testing in New York DWI Cases: Skills for Making the Science of Measuring Blood Alcohol Simple, Lawline.com, December 18, 2016, Webcast.
- Fifth Annual Man vs. Machine: Constructing the Defense in a DWI Case, “Summations and the Art of Telling a Story” March 10, 2017, St. Francis College, Brooklyn, NY
- Fifth Annual Man vs. Machine: Constructing the Defense in a DWI Case, “A Primer on the Science of Blood and Breath Testing” March 10, 2017, St. Francis College, Brooklyn, NY
- Blood and Breath Testing: Science Made Simple, Upstate Criminal Defense Seminar, New York State Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, June 9, 2017, Saratoga Springs, New York.
Educational Background
- State University of New York College at Oneonta, NY, Bachelor of Arts in Speech Communications | Graduated Cum Laude, with Dean’s List Honors - 1989
Scholarly Lectures / Writings
- Strategies for Defending DWI Cases in New York, 2011 ed.: Leading Lawyers on Understanding Today’s DWI Environment, Constructing a Defense Strategy, and Counseling Clients (Inside the Minds), Aspatore
- Bill Strengthening Child Passenger Safety Law Takes Effect Nov. 1, New York Law Journal, August 22, 2013, Outside Counsel, P. 4
- DWI Proposals Cast Too Wide a Net, New York Law Journal, May 29, 2013, Letters to the Editor
- Telling the Story in a DWI Case, Atticus, Winter, 2013, Volume 24, Number 4 (New York Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers)
- Strategies for Defending DWI Cases in New York, 2013 ed.: (Inside the Minds) New Edition, Aspatore, 2013
- Strategies for Defending DWI Cases in New York, 2014 ed.: (Inside the Minds) New Edition, Aspatore, 2014
- The GERD Defense in a DWI Case, Atticus, Spring 2014, Volume 26, Number 1(New York Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers)
- The GERD Defense in a DWI Case, Public Defense Backup Center Report, Volume XXIX, Number 2, June-July 2014 (New York State Defenders Association)
- Keeping the Preliminary Breath Test Out of Evidence, Atticus, Winter 2015, Volume 27, Number 1 (New York Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers)
- The Evolution of Confrontation, Atticus, Fall 2015, Volume 27, Number 3 (New York Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers), 2015
- FYI/DWI: What You Do in the Midnight Hour Can Win Your Case! Atticus, Winter, 2016, Volume 28, Number 1 (New York Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers), 2016
- Calibration, I do not Think That Word Means What You Think it Means, Atticus, Spring 2016, Volume 28, Number 2 (New York Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers), 2016
- Detecting Marijuana Impaired Drivers: A Lesson in History, Lawline 360, March 22, 2016
- Treating Marijuana Worse Than Alcohol Under DUI Regime Is a Mistake, New York Law Journal, April 8, 2021, Perspective P. 6
- Lectured at and produced an all day seminar for over 250 attorneys on the topic of defending a DWI case., Lecturer/Produce, Man vs. Machine, Criminal Defense, 2020
- Instructor, Legal Aid Society of the City of New York
- Adjunct Faculty, Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University
- A 10 month long curriculum that will cover the pathway of a DWI case in New York from arrest through trial intending to teach what is needed to be learned to represent and defend a client charged with DWI as well as how to apply that knowledge to prepare for and conduct a DWI trial. The teaching will include a study of the methods and practices of the law enforcement officers that investigate DWI offenses. The first year’s curriculum will include a 24-hour National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Standardized Field Sobriety Testing Student Course. The Institute has a faculty who are leaders their fields. They bring real-world experience in and outside of the courtroom. Each of our faculty has a specialty that pertains to the art of DWI defense and are highly respected in their professional careers. Our faculty will create active partnerships with scholars, challenge, educate, consult and guide them in mastering both the content needed to learn to defend DWI cases and the skills necessary to attack the science of a DWI case at trial. Among our faculty we have nationally renowned expert witnesses in the fields of breath testing, blood testing, accident reconstruction and standardized field sobriety testing. Their work has led them to be some of the most sought-after expert witnesses in DWI defense in the nation. Each day’s lecture will focus on a substantive topic in the morning and a trial skill applying that knowledge in the afternoon. The first year’s course will culminate in a mock trial of a DWI case. The Institute will also serve its community. The Institute will work on actual cases, both private and pro-bono. As a center for learning, the Institute will invite requests from the professional community of lawyers, experts and Judges to provide, assistance and support on matters which impact the community., Head of the Institute, Steven Epstein DWI Defense Institute, Criminal Defense, 2020
- An article on the fundamental principles of breath testing for criminal defense attorneys in Atticus, a quarterly magazine published by the New York State Association of Criminal defense Lawyers, Writer, Fundamental Principals of Breath Testing, Atticus, 2019
- Gave eight weekly on line seminars on the topic of DWI defense for the New York State Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers on topics that included: breath testing, field sobriety tests, jury, trial skills in defending DWI cases and other areas of DWI defense., Lecturer, Motor Vehicle Mondays, New York State Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Criminal Defense, 2020
- An article on the importance of jury instructions in defending DWI cases., Writer, Jury Instructions: An Essential Tool to Conflict Resolution in a DWI Case, Atticus, Criminal Defense, 2017
- An article on the legalization of marijuana in New York, Writer, Legalizing Recreational Marijuana in New York Would Usher in New Era, New York Law Journal, Attorneys, 2018
- An article on New York's discovery laws as they relate to breath testing, published in Atticus, a quarterly magazine published by the New York State Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers., Writer, Singas v Engel: A Discovery Win for DWI, Criminal Defense, 2018
- Conducted a two day seminar for the Nassau Academy of Law on the trial of a DWI case involving the Intoxilyzer 5000., Lecturer, The Intoxilyzer 5000 on trial, Nassau Academy of Law, 2013
- An article on the defense of vehicular homicide cases published in Atticus, a quarterly magazine published by the New York State Association of Criminal defense Lawyers, Writer, It Takes a Team, Atticus, 2017
- Presented a lecture on the cross examination of the breathalyzer technician in a DWI case for the New York Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers., Lecturer, Cross to Kill: Cross of the Breathalyzer Technician, 2013
- Produced and Lectured at a seminar for over 140 lawyers on the topic of trying a DWI case with a breath sample., Lecturer and Producer of Seminar, Second Annual Man vs. Machine Seminar, 2012
- Lectured on the topic of jury selection in a DWI case for the Bronx County Bar Association., Lecturer, Jury Selection in the DWI Case, 2012
- Lectured on the topic of the cross examination of the Intoxilyzer 5000 EN operator., Lecturer, Cross Examination of the Intoxilyzer 5000EN Operator, 2012
- Produced and lectured at a two day seminar on the trial of a DWI case., Lecturer, First Annual Man vs. Machine: The Intoxilyzer 5000en, 2011
Honors
- Named as one of the nation’s top continuing legal educators by the National Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys
- Avvo Client's Choice - 2021
- Avvo - Top Attorney
- NACDL's Best of the Best
- Avvo - Top DUI Attorney
- Named a New York Metro Area Super Lawyer 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023.
Industry Groups
- NACDL
- NCDD
- Nysacdl
Office location for Steven B. Epstein
666 Old Country Rd
Suite 700
Garden City, NY 11530
Phone: 516-855-3577
Selections
12 Years Super Lawyers
- Super Lawyers: 2014 - 2025
