In a Decision – A.L. v. Montgomery (an "Unreported Decision") >> the Court Held:
The Court determined that a Court Appointed Expert is Entitled to Judicial Immunity.
Husband sought damages against respondent, a court-appointed psychologist in the Family Part post-judgment proceedings, resulting from an unsatisfactory report the psychologist prepared at the request of the family judge in that proceeding. The Appellate Division found that, because respondent was a court-appointed psychologist, charged by the Family Part with assisting it in determining the best interests of the children, she owed no duty to appellant and was cloaked with judicial immunity against the type of vexatious litigation appellant filed against her. The Trial court noted that the role played by respondent was one which that individual must be free to perform without fear of reprisal by parties who, in the end, were disappointed with the result or with the recommendations provided to the court.