Robin Whitehead is a lawyer and academic whose expertise spans human rights, constitutional, mental health, and policing law. She is a member of the Law Society of British Columbia. Prior to her academic career, Professor Whitehead practised litigation and served as an Analyst with the Justice and National Security Section of the Library of Parliament, where she supported the House of Commons Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security.
Professor Whitehead teaches/has taught Criminal Law, Mental Health Law, Studies in Criminal Law: Policing, Constitutional Law, Administrative Law, Critical Race Theory, and Aboriginal Legal Issues.
Her doctoral research at the University of Ottawa, supported by a SSHRC Doctoral Fellowship and a CIHR Health Law, Ethics and Policy Fellowship, involved a Canada-wide qualitative study of coroner and medical examiner reports documenting police-involved deaths of people with mental health disabilities. Her current and past research examines legal issues relating to police violence and misconduct, as well as the constitutional and human rights of people with mental health disabilities. Drawing on empirical research methods and critical theory, her work explores discrimination, equality, and health law.