Michael Phillips

Victory for Parents: New York State Senate Passes Landmark Bill to Limit Problematic Forensic Evaluators in Family Court

June 13, 2025
By Michael Phillips

In a major victory for parental rights and child welfare, the New York State Senate has passed a groundbreaking bill aimed at curbing the use of questionable forensic evaluators in family court proceedings. Sponsored by State Senator Pete Harckham, Senate Bill S1667 https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S1667 delivers long-awaited reform to a deeply flawed system that has devastated thousands of families across the Empire State.

Under this new legislation, only qualified and properly vetted experts will be permitted to testify as forensic evaluators in custody cases. The bill introduces heightened standards for admissibility, requiring credentials, methodologies, and ethical conduct that align with scientific best practices and protect against bias or misuse of power.

A Win for Parents — and for Justice

“This is a clear win for parents in New York,” said one advocate, echoing the sentiment felt by many families who have spent years battling an opaque and often unaccountable family court system. “For too long, pseudoscience and personal agendas disguised as ‘expert testimony’ have destroyed relationships between parents and children.”

Forensic custody evaluators—court-appointed psychologists or mental health professionals—are frequently called upon to make recommendations that heavily influence child custody decisions. But the profession has long operated in a gray zone with little oversight, no licensing requirement for specific forensic credentials, and virtually no accountability for errors, bias, or misconduct.

Parents across New York have reported incidents where evaluators made life-altering decisions based on hearsay, outdated theories, or unscientific conclusions—often without even interviewing the children at the center of the dispute. In some cases, these evaluators have charged tens of thousands of dollars, creating further barriers to justice, especially for low-income families and self-represented parents.

Harckham’s Leadership Signals a Shift

Senator Pete Harckham, a Democrat from New York’s 40th District, took up the mantle of reform and pushed the legislation through after mounting public pressure and years of grassroots advocacy.

“The integrity of our family court system depends on the credibility and qualifications of those offering expert testimony,” Harckham said in a public statement. “This legislation ensures we are prioritizing the safety and well-being of children and the fairness of our judicial proceedings.”

With bipartisan support and testimony from families, legal experts, and child advocates, the bill successfully passed the Senate. Attention now turns to the New York State Assembly, where advocates hope the momentum will continue.

A Blueprint for National Reform?

While this legislation is specific to New York, its implications are national. Across the U.S., similar concerns are emerging: family court systems increasingly rely on poorly regulated third-party evaluators who operate with immense power and little accountability. New York’s reform may serve as a model for other states seeking to restore due process, fairness, and child-centered justice.

What Comes Next?

Parents and reformers are now calling for:

  • Robust implementation of the new standards
  • Independent oversight bodies to investigate evaluator misconduct
  • Funding for alternative dispute resolution and child-focused services
  • National standards for forensic testimony in custody cases

For families harmed by prior evaluator abuse, the question remains: will there be retroactive review or restitution for the damage done?

One parent put it bluntly: “This is the first time I’ve had hope in years. Maybe now, our voices are finally being heard.”

Thank you, Senator Harckham. Thank you, New York. This is a powerful step toward dismantling a toxic culture of unchecked authority in family court—and toward rebuilding trust in a system that is supposed to protect children, not destroy families.

To support independent journalism that exposes and reforms the family court system, consider donating to the REBUILT Justice Project. Every voice counts—and every voice deserves to be heard.

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