Judicial Experts and Child Protection: A Critical Look
PhDr. Tomáš Novák is a Czech psychological counselor and author with decades of professional experience in child and family psychology. Over a long career, he has worked as a court-appointed expert, taught at the university level, and conducted counselling in diverse family contexts.
In his publication Neomylný znalec z psychologie v péči o děti po rozvodu (roughly translated as The Infallible Expert: On Psychological Expertise in Child Custody Cases), Dr. Novák reviews the methodological challenges and limitations of psychological expert opinions as they are applied in judicial settings. The book includes model case examples and discussion of how expert assessments can vary, and warns against uncritical reliance on single reports in high-impact family law decisions.
Dr. Novák has emphasized that no expert is infallible, adapting the adage “a layman wonders, an expert is amazed” with the principle that “neither should remain silent about the mistakes of experts.” His work highlights how methodological issues in expert testimony can have profound consequences for children’s lives when those opinions are used in legal decisions, and underscores the importance of rigorous review and systemic safeguards in judicial processes.
In this context, our reporting under the category Judicial Experts and Child Protection is intended to encourage informed public discussion about how expert assessments are used in legal systems, not to cast personal aspersions, but to promote accountability and better outcomes for children and families.
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