October Term 2012 · Docket 11-1347
Can U.S. courts order a child's return under the Hague Convention?
Parents dispute whether U.S. courts hold power to enforce Hague Convention relief.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
The arguments, in order
This case may have been argued more than once. Each entry below uses that session's official transcript. Later arguments do not erase earlier ones.
Argument 1 ·
What happened at the argument
Mr. Manely argued U.S. courts can effectuate relief.
Mr. Cullen argued U.S. appeals have zero effect.
Ms. Saharsky argued the case is not moot.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 5-49 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 5-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-5 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 31-41 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 31-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 47-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 47-25 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 47-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 27-27 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 27-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 47-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 17-23 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 17-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 41-45 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 41-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 49-49 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 49-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 3-5 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 3-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 45-1 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 45-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 19-31 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 19-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 13-21 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 13-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-35 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 25-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 23-27
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests U.S. court authority over international child custody disputes.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 5-49 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 5-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-5 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 31-41 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 31-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 27-27 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 27-27
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on December 5, 2012.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 47-49
What each side wants
the side that brought the case wants U.S. courts to enforce Hague Convention relief.
the opposing side wants U.S. courts to lack enforcement power.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 5-49 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 5-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-5 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 31-41 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 31-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 27-27 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 27-27
What each side says
the side that brought the case argues U.S. courts can effectuate treaty relief.
the opposing side argues U.S. appeals have zero effect in Scotland.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 5-49 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 5-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-5 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 31-41 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 31-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 27-27 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 27-27
What the justices asked
Justice Ginsburg asked how six months would be satisfied.
Justice Sotomayor asked if Alabama courts would seize jurisdiction.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 47-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 47-25 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 47-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 47-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 17-23 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 17-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 41-45 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 41-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 49-49 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 49-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 3-5 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 3-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 45-1 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 45-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 19-31 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 19-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 13-21 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 13-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-35 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 25-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 23-27
Why it matters
This dispute defines U.S. court power in international custody cases.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 5-49 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 5-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-5 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 31-41 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 31-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 27-27 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 27-27
What happens next
This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 47-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 47-25 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 47-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 47-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 17-23 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 17-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 41-45 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 41-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 49-49 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 49-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 3-5 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 3-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 45-1 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 45-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 19-31 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 19-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 13-21 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 13-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-35 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 25-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 23-27
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 5-49 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 5-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-5 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 31-41 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 31-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 27-27 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 27-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 5-49 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 5-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-5 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 31-41 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 31-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 27-27 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 27-27
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.