October Term 2021 · Docket 20-1034
Must courts weigh safety measures before denying child return?
the sides that brought the case seek a final denial of return. the opposing sides demand a safety review first.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official Court opinion 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
Ms. King argued the convention does not bind courts to return a child once grave risk is met.
Mr. Liu stated the Second Circuit requires considering the full range of safety measures in every case.
Mr. Min argued the convention's text and purpose require considering reasonable safety measures in complex cases.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 31-53 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 31-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 51-51 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 51-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 7-19 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 7-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 41-45 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 41-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 37-31 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 37-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-29 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 31-23 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 31-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 51-11 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 51-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 7-47 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 7-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 49-35 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 49-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 45-23 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 45-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 37-7 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 37-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-31 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 25-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 25-25 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 25-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 29-39 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 29-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 53-19 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 53-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 49-31 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 49-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 15-39 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 15-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 27-23 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 27-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 13-27 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 13-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 81, lines 37-41 — Transcript, file page 81, lines 37-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 81, lines 45-51 — Transcript, file page 81, lines 45-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 81, lines 53-43 — Transcript, file page 81, lines 53-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 9-33 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 9-33
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The Hague Convention governs international child abductions. A grave risk exception allows courts to deny return. The dispute centers on whether courts must evaluate safety measures before applying this exception.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 37-31 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 37-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 31-23 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 31-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 51-11 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 51-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 7-47 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 7-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 81, lines 53-43 — Transcript, file page 81, lines 53-43
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on March 22, 2022.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-29 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 53-19 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 53-19
What each side wants
the sides that brought the case want a final denial of the child's return.
the opposing sides want courts to evaluate safety measures first.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 37-31 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 37-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 31-23 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 31-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 51-11 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 51-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 7-47 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 7-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 81, lines 53-43 — Transcript, file page 81, lines 53-43
What each side says
the sides that brought the case argue the convention allows denial once grave risk exists.
the opposing sides argue the convention requires considering reasonable safety measures.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 37-31 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 37-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 31-23 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 31-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 51-11 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 51-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 7-47 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 7-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 81, lines 53-43 — Transcript, file page 81, lines 53-43
What the justices asked
Chief Justice Roberts asked if a simple grave risk case allows immediate denial.
Justice Breyer asked if the term ameliorative measures was the correct legal standard.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 31-53 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 31-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 51-51 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 51-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 7-19 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 7-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 41-45 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 41-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-29 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 49-35 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 49-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 45-23 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 45-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 37-7 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 37-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-31 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 25-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 25-25 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 25-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 29-39 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 29-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 53-19 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 53-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 49-31 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 49-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 15-39 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 15-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 27-23 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 27-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 13-27 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 13-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 81, lines 37-41 — Transcript, file page 81, lines 37-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 81, lines 45-51 — Transcript, file page 81, lines 45-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 9-33 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 9-33
Why it matters
This case defines the scope of the grave risk exception. It determines how courts balance child safety against parental rights. The outcome shapes future international custody disputes.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 37-31 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 37-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 31-23 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 31-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 51-11 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 51-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 7-47 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 7-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 81, lines 53-43 — Transcript, file page 81, lines 53-43
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 10, lines 31-53 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 31-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 51-51 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 51-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 7-19 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 7-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 41-45 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 41-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-29 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 49-35 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 49-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 45-23 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 45-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 37-7 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 37-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-31 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 25-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 25-25 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 25-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 29-39 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 29-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 53-19 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 53-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 49-31 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 49-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 15-39 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 15-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 27-23 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 27-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 13-27 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 13-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 81, lines 37-41 — Transcript, file page 81, lines 37-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 81, lines 45-51 — Transcript, file page 81, lines 45-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 9-33 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 9-33
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Verified official opinions and orders
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 37-31 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 37-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 31-23 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 31-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 51-11 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 51-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 7-47 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 7-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 81, lines 53-43 — Transcript, file page 81, lines 53-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 37-31 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 37-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 31-23 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 31-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 51-11 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 51-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 7-47 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 7-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 81, lines 53-43 — Transcript, file page 81, lines 53-43
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Post Opinion ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Post Opinion ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.