eNEWS

As AFCC prepares to welcome the insightful, deeply principled, and quietly formidable Hon. Dolores A. Bomrad as its next President at the upcoming conference in New Orleans, I find myself reflecting on a year of meaningful growth, collaboration, and transition. It has been an honour (with Canadian spelling 😊) to serve the AFCC community, a group that continues to lead with integrity and clarity in the ever-evolving field of family law and conflict resolution.

Judges, attorneys, and clinical evaluators are confronted with endless sources of information in their daily practice. Often the information conflicts, and the parties in a family law matter are particularly motivated to have us believe their version of the truth. How do we evaluate how much stock to put in each of these sources? What do we believe? 

Join AFCC Board members Mindy Mitnick and Liberty Aldrich for a candid conversation about their paths to professional growth, the lessons they’ve learned, and how they became leading voices in family law.

Expert testimony plays a crucial role in legal proceedings, providing courts with the knowledge needed to interpret complex issues. In cases such as child custody disputes, the insights offered by psychologists can significantly influence judicial outcomes. However, for such testimony to be admissible and reliable, it must be based on sound principles, scientific methods, and established professional knowledge. This article explores the legal framework surrounding expert testimony and the importance of scientific rigor in psychological evaluations. 

A Call to Include the Voice of the Child
In 1989, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child affirmed that “States Parties shall assure to the child who is capable of forming his or her own views the right to express those views freely in all matters affecting the child, the views of the child being given due weight in accordance with the age and maturity of the child.”  Following the issuance of this document, countries, states, and provinces have met this challenge with a variety of statutes and processes.  Despite the US never having signed the Convention, states commonly include a Best Interest factor related to the child’s preference in family law disputes.  In Canada, provinces have established the Voice of the Child report as a way to hear from children and provide their thoughts, wishes, and feelings through meeting with a professional.  Mediation, parenting plan evaluations, parenting coordination, Guardians ad litem, minor’s counsel and hearings/tri