Suzanne Blackwell

Suzanne Joy Yerex Blackwell MNZM is a New Zealand clinical psychologist, and holds an honorary position at the University of Auckland. In 2024 Blackwell was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to clinical and forensic psychology and the law.

Suzanne Blackwell MNZM
Blackwell in October 2024
Awards	Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit
Academic background
Alma mater	University of Auckland
Thesis	Child sexual abuse on trial (2007)
Doctoral advisor	Fred Seymour

Academic career

Blackwell completed a PhD titled Child sexual abuse on trial at the University of Auckland in 2007. She is an honorary academic at the university. Blackwell is a clinical psychologist who works in the areas of child sexual abuse and professional ethics. Blackwell has appeared as an expert witness at a number of court trials, including that of Peter Ellis, where she was a witness for the Crown.

Blackwell has researched how a juror's misconceptions about sexual abuse might affect their decision-making in court, and has provided expert evidence to courts on counter-intuitive behaviour in complainants, such as why complainants might delay taking action, retract their complaints, or might stay in contact with abusers.

Blackwell has chaired conduct committees for the New Zealand Board of Psychologists. She co-founded the Family Court Psychologists’ Specialist Report Writers Association. Blackwell was an editor and author of the 2018 Psychology and the Law in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Honours and awards

In 2011 Blackwell was awarded the Ballin Award by the New Zealand Psychological Society for her contribution to clinical psychology. In the 2024 King's Birthday Honours Blackwell was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to clinical and forensic psychology and the law.

Selected works

• Seymour, Fred; Blackwell, Suzanne; Tamatea, Armon (2018). Psychology and the Law in Aotearoa New Zealand. New Zealand Psychological Society. p. 381. ISBN 9780473449643.
• Isabel Randell; Fred Seymour; Emily Henderson; Suzanne Blackwell (11 December 2017). "The Experiences of Young Complainant Witnesses in Criminal Court Trials for Sexual Offences". Psychiatry Psychology and Law. 25 (3): 357–373. doi:10.1080/13218719.2017.1396866. ISSN 1321-8719. PMC 6818346. PMID 31984025. Wikidata Q92954147.
• Suzanne Blackwell; Fred Seymour (4 August 2015). "Expert Evidence and Jurors' Views on Expert Witnesses". Psychiatry Psychology and Law. 22 (5): 673–681. doi:10.1080/13218719.2015.1063181. ISSN 1321-8719. Wikidata Q131189840.
• Isabel Randell; Fred Seymour; Clare McCann; Suzanne Blackwell (26 May 2021). "The experiences of young witnesses and caregivers in Aotearoa New Zealand's Sexual Violence Pilot Courts". Psychiatry Psychology and Law. 29 (1): 134–153. doi:10.1080/13218719.2021.1904449. ISSN 1321-8719. Wikidata Q131189839.
• Suzanne Blackwell; Fred Seymour (21 November 2013). "Prediction of Jury Verdicts in Child Sexual Assault Trials". Psychiatry Psychology and Law. 21 (4): 567–576. doi:10.1080/13218719.2013.856278. ISSN 1321-8719. Wikidata Q131189846.
• Fred Seymour; Suzanne Blackwell; Sarah Calvert; Briar McLean (October 2013). "Counterintuitive Expert Psychological Evidence in Child Sexual Abuse Trials in New Zealand". Psychiatry Psychology and Law. 21 (4): 511–522. doi:10.1080/13218719.2013.839930. ISSN 1321-8719. Wikidata Q131189845.
• Yvonne Woodhead; Dianne Cameron; Suzanne Blackwell; Frederick W. Seymour (14 November 2014). "Family Court Judges' Decisions Regarding Post-Separation Care Arrangements for Young Children". Psychiatry Psychology and Law. 22 (4): 520–534. doi:10.1080/13218719.2014.960034. ISSN 1321-8719. Wikidata Q131189844.