Senior high court judge to address issues in ‘parental alienation’ cases

Legitimacy of court-appointed experts' to come under review after mother loses custody appeal

One of Britain's most senior judges is to examine issues relating to the regulation of court-appointed experts who provide evidence about child welfare in private custody hearings - and, in particular, where parental alienation" is a feature.

Sir Andrew McFarlane, the president of the family division of the high court, will oversee an appeal later this month brought by a mother who challenged the qualifications of a court-appointed expert who found she had alienated" her children from their father.