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SCOTUS Hears International Child Custody Case [VIDEO]

What rights does an American parent have in a custody dispute if the child has already been moved overseas?  That question was heard in front of the U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday.

FOX News Radio’s Jared Halpern has details from Washington:

Audio clip:

After Army Sgt. Jeff Chafin separated from his Scottish wife, the couple fought over custody of their daughter.  Ultimately, the mother – after being deported back to Scotland – won custody.

(Sgt. Chafin) “It’s not about a country, about getting her back to the United States.  It’s about a safe environment.”

But lower Federal courts have dismissed Chafin’s appeal, ruling they have no jurisdiction since the child is now in another country.

(Cullen) “The idea of making her a ping-pong ball and bringing her back to America two, three years down the line just isn’t fair.”

The mother’s attorney, Stephen Cullen, hopes for a quick opinion.

In Washington, Jared Halpern, FOX News Radio.

WATCH more on this international custody dispute:

One Comment

  1. Jordan

    December 5, 2012 at 7:19 pm

    I say if the child holds American citizenship and was in America when the separation occurred it seems to me that whisking the child outside of the country amounts to kidnapping…especially when it is done to escape the ruling of American law.