Having just gone through the Section 133 special report writer process I have to confess that I was wrong in my earlier posting above. I am making this one in the interests of natural justice and in the hope it might offer useful feedback to other men going through the same process. My lesson from all this? Don’t be afraid based on the experience of others. There are some good court psychologists out there and in my view Dr Suzanne Blackwell of Auckland is one of them.

Believe me, I was a critic, but on the advice of someone I really respected and trusted, I withdrew my objection to the appointment of Dr Blackwell as the appointed 133 special report writer in my COCA case, and am glad I did so. I found her fair and objective and very impartial. Having expected the worst, based on the experience of others with different Court-appointed psychologists, I found I was wrong about Dr Blackwell. I found her very approachable and thorough. She is however very challenging and business-like. I imagine any attempt to mislead her would be fatal. She enforces the rules very strictly but without bias.

Given that she knew I had initially kicked up a fuss about her, I found her very magnanimous and open-minded about my original objection. She appears to accept that men may view the Family Court and its processes as being biased towards women. In my personal experience, she is not however. I found her more objective on this issue than the Judge in my case, who at one point verbally berated me and demanded to know if “I had an issue with women” simply because I had expressed a personal view that I felt the Family Court is overly feminized. I hardly think I am alone in this opinion, but in terms of His Honour Judge LJ Ryan of the North Shore Family Court, this appears to border on heresy and expect to be severely burned at the stake (as I was) if you dare utter this sentiment in his court. In my view, Judge Ryan is very receptive to the complaints of women, as indeed he should be. I’m not so sure what he thinks about men making the same complaints however. I personally didn’t feel any sympathy was there for me as a man or the abuse I have experienced, even though technically I won this particular case and there was plenty of evidence of the abuse I had experienced.

In my personal view, this is one very black and white judge who does appear to take notice of the stereotypical view of men as abusers and women as victims. Men who criticize the Family Court appear as a red rag to him. My advice if you get Judge Ryan is don’t make my mistake and criticize the Family Court. He brooks no criticism of the system. I think this is sad because I am a man who is trying to find his voice after years of subjugation, and stand by my rights criticize the way men and fathers are treated by our legal institutions in this country.

Dr Blackwell’s report wasn’t ready by the time Judge Ryan heard this particular case and I now wish her report had been available earlier. I think I might have had a fairing hearing. This is not to say she didn’t have criticism of me, but it would be unrealistic if there wasn’t. I found providing as many referees as possible very helpful. Dr Blackwell did talk to them. She also accorded me the courtesy of being always available to talk and always responded to my queries. I don’t think any man should be fearful of having Dr Blackwell as the s 133 report writer. In my view, she assessed my case correctly and was fair to both parties and was objective. She was aware of my postings on the Menz site criticizing the new complaints procedures for court-appointed psychologists and felt the need to report this to the court, but I don’t bear her any ill-will for this as I see my objection as very valid and am prepared to stand up for my beliefs. The new complaint process is patently wrong. I earnestly believe a judge is no more qualified to comment on the findings of a psychologist than I am. I have in fact complained to the Psychologists’ Board about His Honour Judge P Boshier’s new ruling and got a very nice and polite response acknowledging my concerns – although a fat lot of good it will do. But realistically, what else did I expect them to say?

So what I have learned from all this? The importance of accurate feedback from others going through the system. I relied on out-dated and vague information that was actually incorrect in my case. I guess in this respect I am no better than some judges in having made stereotypical opinion of people. I don’t think all court-appointed psychologists get it wrong or are anti-men or anti-fathers. They are no different from the several family law practitioners I’ve had dealings with. Some are really outstanding in my view and I would recommend at least three off-line if anyone wants my opinion. I can also give you the names of two lawyers to steer well clear off as they are a couple of shockers and absolute men-haters.

The court-condoned verbal and psychological abuse I sustained during five hours of cross-examination left me traumatized and numb for days afterwards. I felt unable to cope. I was shocked how dirty and bullying lawyers are allowed to get in the Family Court. This despite the fact my lawyer showed the Judge two specialist medical letters pronouncing me unfit for cross-examination on both physical and psychological grounds. I had the choice of simply abandoning my defence or subjecting myself to what was a physical torture of sitting still for prolonged periods (because of my physical disabilities) and the psychological abuse of opposing counsel who accused me of the most vile and foul acts a man or a father could possibly commit. Even dosed up on pain killers as I was, I could not help but see the irony of how the Family Court process exposes those accused of abuse to psychological abuse themselves through the very loose and liberal cross-examination process some Family Court judges allow in the interests of “natural justice”. I went in a wreck and came out a worse wreck and the Judge had the nerve to say he hoped I found the process “cathartic”. Carcinogenic would have been a better term for him to have used.

Lational and Naybour are not the only parties that are involved in this coming election. Act, the Maori party, NZ first and the Greens are not the only minority groups. Why do we condone a left or right party to represnt us? Why do we have to vote for any of these clowns who don’t seem to give the slightest thought to what hundreds of thousands of men (and some women) are going through?

The ONLY party to give a shit about us, the fathers (and step mothers) is the Republic of New Zealand Party. WE WILL ABOLISH THE SCA, WE WILL ABOLISH THE FAMILY COURT.

If each and every one of you gave your Party vote the the RONZ party and encouraged every father you know who is going through the same thing to vote for RONZ – if every father who has been hurt by the CSA or FC voted for the RONZ we would hit at least 20% if not more. Like I say, I may be wrong, it may be more than that.

Stop beating yourselves and others up about it. IT’S NOT YOUR FAULT. We WILL make a change sooner or later so why don’t we make it sooner?

Obviously there is so much more that the RONZ can do for this country – check out http://www.republicans.org.nz party vote RONZ. Make a change!

One Father a day commits suicide because of the CSA and The Family Court. Lets stop the injustice. Me and every other party member of the RONZ are here for you.

We can’t do this by our selves, we need you to stand up with us! Remember, we are the ONLY party with your interests at heart.

Vote wise, Vote Republican!

Gerry