Chafin v. Chafin

Docket No.	Op. Below	Argument	Opinion	Vote	Author	Term
11-1347	11th Cir.	Dec 5, 2012	Feb 19, 2013	9-0	Roberts	OT 2012

Holding: The return of a child to a foreign country pursuant to an order under the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction does not render an appeal of that order moot.

Judgment: Vacated and remanded, 9-0, in an opinion by Chief Justice Roberts on February 19, 2013. Justice Ginsburg filed a concurring opinion in which Justice Scalia and Justice Breyer joined.

SCOTUSblog Coverage

Opinion recap: Family law dispute not moot after child's return (Amy Howe, February 21, 2013)
Argument report: Choosing between unpalatable outcomes? (Amy Howe, December 9, 2012)
Argument preview: When mootness and international family law collide (Amy Howe, December 5, 2012)
Court grants one new case (UPDATED) (Lyle Denniston, August 13, 2012)

Date	Proceedings and Orders (key to color coding)
05/07/2012	Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due June 8, 2012)
06/08/2012	Brief of respondent Lynne Hales Chafin in opposition filed.
06/20/2012	DISTRIBUTED for Conference of September 24, 2012.
08/13/2012	Petition GRANTED.
09/14/2012	SET FOR ARGUMENT ON Wednesday, December 5, 2012.
09/26/2012	Joint appendix filed. (Statement of costs filed)
09/27/2012	Brief of petitioner Jeffrey Lee Chafin filed.
10/02/2012	Record received from U.S.C.A. for 11th Circuit. (1 box)
10/04/2012	Brief amicus curiae of the United States filed.
10/04/2012	Proposal of the Solicitor General to lodge copies of a decision by the Constitutional Court of Spain, translated, which is cited to in their amicus curiae brief.
10/04/2012	Brief amicus curiae of National Center for Missing and Exploited Children filed.
10/17/2012	CIRCULATED.
10/22/2012	Record from U.S.D.C. for Northern District of Alabama is electronic.
10/29/2012	Brief of respondent Lynne Hales Chafin filed. (Distributed)
10/29/2012	Proposal of respondent to lodge copies of documents from the Sheriff Court of South Strathclyde, Dumfries & Galloway at Airdrie, Scotland, which are cited to in her brief, petitioner's and the brief of the United States.
11/05/2012	Brief amicus curiae of Centre for Family Law and Policy filed. (Distributed)
11/05/2012	Motion for divided argument filed by respondent Lynne Hales Chafin.
11/05/2012	Motion of the Solicitor General for leave to participate in oral argument as amicus curiae and for divided argument filed.
11/09/2012	Petitioner's opposition to motion of respondent for divided argument.
11/20/2012	Motion for divided argument filed by respondent DENIED.
11/20/2012	Motion of the Solicitor General for leave to participate in oral argument as amicus curiae and for divided argument GRANTED.
11/21/2012	Reply of petitioner Jeffrey Lee Chafin filed. (Distributed)
11/29/2012	Proposal of respondent to lodge copies of the Notice of Intention to Defend in the Sheriff Court of South Strathclyde, Dumfries & Galloway at Airdrie, Scotland.
11/30/2012	Lodging approved. Twenty copies of a decision by the Constitutional Court of Spain from the Solicitor General received and distributed.
11/30/2012	Respondent's lodging proposals approved. Twenty copies each of documents from the Sheriff Court of South Strathclyde, Dumfries & Galloway at Airdrie, Scotland, and of the Notice of Intention to Defend in the Sheriff Court of South Strathclyde, Dumfries & Galloway at Airdrie, Scotland.
12/04/2012	Proposal to lodge copies of proceedings, in the Larbie v. Larbie case before the High Court of Justice Family Division, pursuant to a request of the UKCA under the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International child Abduction filed.
12/05/2012	Argued. For petitioner: Michael E. Manely, Marietta, Ga.; and Nicole A. Saharsky, Assistant to the Solicitor General, Department of Justice, Washington, D. C. (for United States, as amicus curiae.) For respondent: Stephen J. Cullen, Washington, D. C.
01/23/2013	Letter and copy of the judgment issued by the English High Court of Justice Family Division in Larbie v. Larbie counsel for the respondent received and distributed.
02/19/2013	Judgment VACATED and case REMANDED. Roberts, C. J., delivered the opinion for a unanimous Court. Ginsburg, J., filed a concurring opinion, in which Scalia and Breyer, JJ., joined.
03/25/2013	JUDGMENT ISSUED.
04/09/2013	Record returned to U.S.C.A. for 11th Circuit.

Judgment:”Vacated and remanded, 9-0, in an opinion by Chief Justice Roberts on February 19, 2013. Justice Ginsburg filed a concurring opinion in which Justice Scalia and Justice Breyer joined.