Washington Judge Enlisted Controversial ‘Expert’ to Train Other Judges on Debunked Theory Tied to Catholic Abuse Cover-Ups
While Clallam County Superior Court attempted to navigate a catastrophic 18-month backlog in family law cases, then-Presiding Judge Brent Basden turned to “experts” who promote a theory that even its own architects now admit is a failure.
Courtroom video obtained by the Olympic Herald reveals that Judge Basden is not merely a passive observer of these theories.
During a trial on December 9, 2025, Judge Basden addressed an expert witness, Dr. Marsha Hedrick, from the bench, stating: “The court found your testimony last time fascinating. In fact, I recommended it to colleagues as just a basis to think about these cases.”
Judge Basden was referring to Hedrick’s expert testimony regarding a journal which she self-published with Dr. John Dunne in 1994.
Yet his endorsement of Hedrick’s testimony comes despite a 2019 sworn declaration from Dr. John Dunne, who co-authored Hedrick’s foundational paper.
In his declaration, Dunne admitted that the theory that Hedrick’s self-published journal is based on was “widely discredited in the psychiatric and legal communities.”
Dr. Dunne ends his declaration by bizarrely stating to the court that he has “never accepted a bribe” in “any of [his] clinical or forensic work.”
The 1994 Paper: A “Syndrome” Built on Sand
One option for discrediting abuse victims in family court for decades, has been a 1994 paper co-authored by Dr. Dunne and Dr. Marsha Hedrick titled, “The Parental Alienation Syndrome: An Analysis of Sixteen Selected Cases.”
The paper utilized the criteria of Richard Gardner, the creator of PAS, who testified in hundreds of cases on behalf of fathers accused of child molestation.
Gardner’s views, which formed the bedrock of Hedrick and Dunne’s work, were profoundly disturbing. Gardner wrote that “there is a certain amount of pedophilia in all of us,” and suggested that in cases of child molestation, mothers should be helped to understand that their children may have “enjoyed immensely the sexual activities.”
Marsha Hedrick and the Stuart Greenberg Legacy
The professional orbit surrounding Judge Basden’s preferred expert, Marsha Hedrick, includes the late Stu Greenberg, a renowned forensic psychologist whose entire career was exposed as being built on “hypocrisy and lies.”
Greenberg’s record was one of systemic deception:
Misconduct and Suspension: In the 1990s, Greenberg pled guilty to misconduct in several custody cases and was suspended from performing evaluations for three years.
Sealing the Past: After King County Judge R. Joseph Wesley refused to seal his suspension records in 1993, Greenberg successfully lobbied a Thurston County judge to place those same records off-limits to the public.
A Grinding Halt: In 2007, Greenberg was arrested for placing a video camera in his office restroom to record people in various states of undress; he committed suicide shortly after.
Despite this history, Marsha Hedrick remained a staunch defender of Greenberg, stating: “Stu was an incredibly intelligent man and a stellar contributor to the field of forensic psychology.”
A Playbook for Institutional Cover-Ups
The strategy of using “alienation”to suppress abuse survivors has long been a cornerstone of institutional defense.
Dr. Hedrick’s close associate, the late Stu Greenberg, was a primary architect of this approach. Greenberg did not just consult on custody cases, he also served as a key advisor for the defense of Catholic priests accused of child abuse.
This lineage of forensic psychology played a critical role in the systematic concealment of the molestation and rape of women and children within the Catholic Church.
For example, during the 2005 deposition of Seattle University President Father Stephen Sundborg regarding the Jesuit abuse scandal in Alaska, it was revealed that Sundborg relied heavily on Greenberg.
Greenberg specifically counseled Sundborg against investigating potential victims, claiming such an investigation might “cause more damage” than the original abuse. This advice allowed known predators to remain in ministry while survivors were left without resources or acknowledgment.
Connections to the Epstein Case
The reach of Dr. Hedrick’s training and methodology also appears in records recently produced by the Department of Justice related to the Jeffrey Epstein case.
Within these files is the curriculum vitae of Dr. Kathleen McHugh, a psychologist whose examinations and reports were part of the documentation in the “Epstein Matter.”
On her resume, Dr. McHugh specifically cites receiving professional training from Dr. Hedrick. Specifically, in March 2008, McHugh attended a workshop titled “Assessments in Contested Parenting Time and Access Matters” presented by Marsha Hedrick, Ph.D.
While there is no indication that Hedrick (or McHugh) had any personal or professional association with Epstein, her role in training experts whose work appears in high-stakes DOJ records underscores her influence in the field of forensic evaluations.
The Centralization of Clallam’s Family Court
Despite the controversial history of these theories, current Presiding Judge Barnhart has moved to centralize Judge Basden’s influence over local family law cases.
While Clallam County Superior Court officials previously suggested that the family law calendar would be handled by a rotation of judges, current records indicate a departure from that plan.
Since the termination of former Commissioner Parker, Judge Basden has been assigned to the family law calendar every single week.
Although the majority of Clallam County appears to be concerned with Basden presiding over domestic cases, some Facebook commenters suggested that Basden’s LDS membership could benefit their case.
Yet the majority of Clallam County appears to be deeply disturbed.
This permanent assignment ensures that a judge who publicly recommended Dr. Hedrick’s “fascinating” testimony to his judicial colleagues—testimony based on theories her own co-author admitted were “rightly” discredited—now holds total authority over Clallam County’s most sensitive custody and abuse cases.
As Clallam County continues to struggle with a catastrophic 18-month backlog, the victims of domestic violence and child abuse find themselves entering a courtroom where the family court judge is actively promoting a playbook long associated with protecting the interests of the powerful.
Great reporting
"...their children may have “enjoyed immensely the sexual activities.”"
I have to say something about this.
YES, a 9-year-old girl MAY enjoy sexual activity. BUT... introducing that child to it can have LONG-TERM effects that are traumatizing to her. The feeling of shame, embarrassment, even when no one is around... the thought of it, the memories that surface as an adult can cause the adult person to verbally exclaim, "No..." and "don't", from the internal embarrassment, the feeling of shame, even while you're alone in your house doing the dishes. It takes a lot over years to dispell that feeling, remembering that you were exposed to it, you didn't choose it. "It's not your fault." So, yes, while that statement may be true (or prolonged abuse of a child wouldn't likely happen, unless by force), it does not excuse the behavior. It creates the ultimate in "awkward moments" between family members, friends of family, etc. Your relationship with that abuser becomes strained, even if you "get over it", for the rest of your life. You wonder if you will ever have a normal relationship with them. Even when you're 55 years old.
Of course, I am speaking from experience. Not as an expert.
That said, I don't think that this testimony or argument is valid in ANY case. Just because a child "enjoyed" having sex, doesn't make it right. It's CERTAINLY not an excuse for an educated adult. Two young children "experimenting", depending upon the age, maybe excuseable. A teenage boy who does this to a young girl, no. They should know better.