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High Court allows journalist first access to experts’ reports in family cases

A journalist investigating what’s been officially described as the “harmful pseudo-science” of “parental alienation syndrome” has been allowed unprecedented access to expert reports provided by a clinical psychologist in four family cases.

The High Court said the journalist could see the reports — though not publish most of what they say — even though she had not attended past hearings in three of the four cases. That’s not been permitted before.

All the cases involved disputes between parents over the arrangements for bringing up their children. It’s now possible for reporters to attend hearings in these cases and report what’s said, provided a transparency order has been made and the parties are not identified. “Accredited” journalists and bloggers have access to some court papers but not to reports from experts or from Cafcass, the body that represents the interests of the children.