Document ID: ./input/supremecourt_opinions/opinions/21pdf/20-1034_b8dg.pdf
Page Number: 7.0

4 

GOLAN v. SAADA 

Opinion of the Court 

rights under the Convention and not the merits of any un-
derlying  child  custody  claims.”    §9001(b)(4);  see  Art.  19,
Treaty Doc., at 11 (“A decision under this Convention con-
cerning  the  return  of  the  child  shall  not  be  taken  to  be  a 
determination on the merits of any custody issue”).

Under ICARA, the party petitioning for the child’s return
bears the burden of establishing by a preponderance of the
evidence that the child was wrongfully removed or retained.
§9003(e)(1).  If the court finds the child was wrongfully re-
moved  or  retained,  the  respondent  opposing  return  of  the
child has the burden of establishing that an exception to the 
return requirement applies.  §9003(e)(2).  A respondent ar-
guing that return would expose the child to a grave risk of
harm  must  establish  that  this  exception  applies  by  “clear 
and convincing evidence.”  §9003(e)(2)(A).  Absent a finding 
that an exception applies, a child determined to be wrong-
fully removed or retained must be “promptly returned” to
the child’s country of habitual residence.  §9001(a)(4). 

B 

Petitioner Narkis Golan is a citizen of the United States. 
She met respondent Isacco Saada, an Italian citizen, while
attending a wedding in Milan, Italy, in 2014.  Golan soon 
moved  to  Milan,  and  the  two  wed  in  August  2015.    Their 
son, B. A. S., was born the next summer in Milan, where the 
family lived for the first two years of B. A. S.’ life.

The  following  facts,  as  found  by  the  District  Court,  are
not in dispute.  Saada and Golan’s relationship was charac-
terized by violence from the beginning.  The two fought on
an almost daily basis and, during their arguments, Saada 
would sometimes push, slap, and grab Golan and pull her 
hair.  Saada also yelled and swore at Golan and frequently 
insulted her and  called her names, often in front of other 
people.  Saada once told Golan’s family that he would kill 
her.  Much of Saada’s abuse of Golan occurred in front of his 
son.