While Walters is already a familiar face to many students, through her previous teaching in the Common Law Section, she now joins the Faculty as an Assistant Professor.
After earning her J.D. in 2020 at uOttawa, building a career as a criminal defence lawyer, pursuing graduate studies at the Berkeley School of Law and Columbia, Law School and a current Harvard Research Fellow at the Institute to End Mass Incarceration, Walters now returns with scholarship that examines criminal law, evidence, and the ways legal systems shape the lives of marginalized communities.
She describes her return to the Faculty as both familiar and new, and she is grateful for the warm welcome extended by her colleagues. Her connection to the Section began as a student, where she benefited from the guidance of several mentors. Among them was Professor Constance Backhouse, whose encouragement she says played a formative role in shaping her path in academia.
Research
At the heart of Walters' research is a simple principle: follow your curiosity.
Before attending law school, she was involved in community organizing and social justice advocacy, including co-developing a research project for the Canadian Human Rights Commission and conducting policy research at the Canadian Union of Public Employees on issues affecting equity-seeking groups.
As a law student, she interned with Senator Kim Pate, where she gained insight into the intersections of marginalization, criminalization, and the lived realities of incarcerated people.
Her experiences in advocacy, policy work and community engagement shaped the questions she brought with her into legal education and continue to inform her scholarship today.
“My research questions are informed by the relationships I have, the lived experiences of people I know, and my practical experiences," she explains.
This perspective continues to guide her work as she explores how legal institutions operate in practice and how the law can better respond to the experiences of marginalized communities.
In her recent publication, “The Criminalization of Black Friendship, Kinship and Belonging,” Walters explores how Black friendship, family ties, and community belonging are often misinterpreted through the lens of criminal law, contributing to systemic racial inequality.
Learning from Critical Legal Scholars
Professor Walters' academic journey took her beyond Canada to some of the world's leading institutions. Graduate studies at Berkeley and Columbia allowed her to work alongside influential critical legal scholars whose ideas continue to shape her approach to law.
“Intellectual independence comes with the responsibility to be brave, critical, and curious,” she says. “By sharing research insights beyond academia, this helps inform policies, legislation, and decisions that shape our communities and society.”
Connecting Theory, Doctrine, and Practice
Her years as a criminal defence lawyer continue to influence her approaches teaching.
While she believes it is essential for students to engage with a wide range of legal theories and concepts, she is equally committed to helping them understand how those ideas operate in practice. Her goal is to "connect doctrine, theory, practice, and the human dimension."
Walters will teach Criminal Law and Procedure, Critical Race Theory and an upper-year seminar course titled Studies in Public Law: Punishment and the Law. She brings with her a distinctive combination of courtroom experience, leading-edge scholarship, and a teaching philosophy rooted in connecting doctrine, theory, and practice. Her presence will enrich the Faculty’s commitment to rigorous, socially-engaged legal education.
Welcome back to the Faculty of Law, Professor Walters. As you transition into this new role, we look forward to your continued contributions as a scholar, teacher, and mentor.