US Hague win – 13(1)b and ‘well-settled’ defence

Our thanks to Professor Jeffrey Edleson, one of the expert witnesses in this case (the other was forensic psychologist Dr Dante Spetter), for alerting us to this recent judgment. Both experts testified that domestic violence towards the mother is a serious risk to the child; both also raised concerns regarding coercive control and the escalation of risk to both mother and child after separation. Hague mothers are well-aware of these issues; judges generally less so. It is hopeful that, in this instance, the expert witnesses were listened to and a non-return order made.