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Court: US custody case not moot with child abroad
Mom left with child after judge approved it
Posted: 02/19/2013
Last Updated:
119 days ago
The Supreme Court says U.S. courts still have some work to do in an international custody case between a U.S. soldier and his estranged Scottish wife over their daughter.
Army Sgt. 1st Class Jeffrey Lee Chafin and Lynne Hales Chafin had a daughter in 2007. Lynne Chafin was deported after divorce procedures started in Alabama, but she cited an international custody treaty when she sued to bring her daughter to Scotland.
She left with the child once a federal judge allowed it, but the father appealed. A federal appeals court said his appeal was moot because the child is now in Scotland.
A unanimous Supreme Court overturned that decision Tuesday, with Chief Justice John Roberts saying "such return does not render this case moot."
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