Hasine Shaikh

Ms. Shaikh assumed the role of Trinidad and Tobago’s first Chief Public Defender in March 2020. As head, she has steered the department to being the recipient of the IDB Service Excellence Award 2024 in Public Service. Prior to this role, Ms. Shaikh was a member of the private Criminal Bar as Defence Counsel since being called to the Bar of Trinidad and Tobago in 2008. She graduated from the University of the West Indies and Hugh Wooding Law School. She has always had a passion for criminal law and has practiced in Magisterial, High Court and Appellate matters. She also went on to complete her Master of Laws in Criminology and Criminal Justice in 2016 from the University of London. Prior to her embarking on the legal profession, Ms. Shaikh graduated from St. Augustine Girls’ High School in 2003 with an Additional Scholarship. 

Ms. Shaikh has always been an active participant in the continued development of the Criminal Justice system and contributes as a serving member of the Criminal Justice Reform Committee and the Criminal Legislative Review Committee of the Law Association of Trinidad and Tobago. She also serves on the Criminal Justice Committee chaired by the Chief Justice of Trinidad and Tobago in addition to the Plea Discussion and Plea Agreement Committee chaired by the Office of Attorney General and Ministry of Legal Affairs. She has also participated in multiple Joint-Select Committees and Special Select Committees of Parliament which are geared to criminal justice reform. She has also been appointed a member of the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Advisory Group.

She strongly believes in the shaping of young minds in the profession and to this end, was a past tutor for the University of the West Indies, Law Faculty for Criminal Law and currently tutors in the Hugh Wooding Law School, for Criminal Practice and Procedure.