Christopher Robinette

Christopher Robinette is a Professor of Law at Southwestern Law School, where he joined in 2021. He teaches Torts, Products Liability, and the Foundations of Tort Law Seminar. He holds a B.A. from the College of William & Mary, a J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law, and an LL.M. in Legal Education from Temple University. He previously served as a Professor at Widener University Commonwealth Law School and held visiting positions at the University of Iowa and Washington University in St. Louis.

• B.A., cum laude, Government and Philosophy (with Honors), College of William & Mary, 1993
• J.D., University of Virginia School of Law, 1996
• LL.M. in Legal Education, Temple University School of Law, 2005

Robinette is a leading expert in tort law and theory, with research interests spanning tort reform, civil recourse theory, insurance law, and products liability. His scholarship explores the philosophical and doctrinal foundations of tort law, often integrating historical, comparative, and policy perspectives. He has written extensively on the work of William Prosser and the evolution of tort doctrine in the United States.

His recent publications reflect a strong trend toward analyzing tort law through interdisciplinary and normative lenses, including connections to constitutional theory, digital communication regulation, and medical ethics. His work frequently addresses reform efforts in state and federal systems, with a focus on improving compensation mechanisms and clarifying liability standards. He has contributed to major legal treatises such as Harper, James & Gray on Torts and New Appleman on Insurance Law.

Robinette has received numerous honors, including:

• Lindback Foundation Award for Distinguished Teaching (2018)
• Adviser to the ALI’s Restatement of the Law Third, Torts (2019)
• Elected Member of the American Law Institute (2012)
• Best Paper Award at an international conference in Malaysia
• Elected Member of the European Centre for Tort and Insurance Law

He has advised numerous students and mentored junior scholars, though specific advisee names are not listed. He has secured recognition for his teaching and scholarship and has served on public ethics and advisory boards, including for the Salvation Army and a hospital ethics committee. His engagement with media and public policy demonstrates a commitment to translating academic insights into real-world impact.

Robinette leads and contributes to several academic initiatives, including serving as editor of the TortsProf Blog, editorial board member of the Journal of Tort Law, and U.S. Representative to the European Group on Tort Law. He is also actively involved in curriculum development, particularly in online legal education, as seen in his contributions to Southwestern’s Online J.D. program.