Decisions made by UK Family Court Judge Robin Tolson KC have faced numerous successful appeals over the past six years, raising concerns about his handling of cases involving allegations of domestic abuse. In one instance in 2021, three senior judges found his approach to evidence to be "seriously flawed." This case involved a mother who alleged rape and abuse, and the judge had characterized her as "deeply troubled" and suffering from "mental health difficulties" instead of acknowledging her as a victim of domestic abuse.
More recently, in 2024, the Court of Appeal again criticized Judge Tolson's decisions in a case concerning domestic abuse allegations. At that time, he had ruled that a father should have unsupervised contact with his children despite the allegations against him.
In 2025, a High Court judge, Mrs Justice Judd, overturned a decision by Judge Tolson that would have allowed a father unsupervised video contact with his children. This ruling came after the father had pleaded guilty to assaulting the mother and her family.
Domestic abuse is a significant issue in family court cases. A report by the Domestic Abuse Commissioner, based on a limited sample, indicated that it was mentioned as a factor in nearly 90% of cases reviewed. In response to these ongoing concerns, the government announced earlier this month its commitment to taking action to improve the experiences of individuals involved in private law proceedings concerning child custody, particularly those who are victims of domestic abuse or have been subjected to other serious offenses.