Victory

It's been weeks and weeks since anything significant happened with the Goldman case. Last week, a federal prosecutor released a statement favoring Sean's return, which was hopeful, but inconclusive.

But when I received an email from G1 asking for information about the case, I knew something was up, and then I saw this in VEJA, and my heart stopped:

"O menino Sean Goldman, de 8 anos, cuja guarda estava sendo disputada  desde o início do ano pelo pai biológico e pelo padrasto, terá que voltar para os EUA imediatamente.     

A decisão acaba de ser tomada pelo juiz Rafael Pereira Pinto, da 16ª Vara Federal do Rio de Janeiro. Em sua sentença, Pereira Pinto determina o 'retorno imediato', ou seja, a qualquer momento Sean poderá embarcar para os EUA."

Translation: the judge has ordered Sean's immediate return to the US.

Now the problem lies in enforcing the order, and since I trust the family as far as I can throw them, so I am trying to be wary in my excitement. I'll be updating regularly when I get more information.

UPDATE: Sean will be under the protection of the Federal Police for the next 48 hours, after which he must be turned over to the custody of a US consulate official. The Brazilian family's lawyer is trying to prevent this order from being enforced and is appealing the judge's decision.

UPDATE 2: Read the full text of the decision (in Portuguese) here. Interesting tidbits: the LeS must pay the legal fees, Sean's flight home, and are forbidden from leaving the city with Sean.

UPDATE 3: Jornal Nacional, Brazil's most watched evening news program, covered the decision, which you can watch here.

UPDATE 4: Congressman Chris Smith of New Jersey, who accompanied David on a trip to Brazil in March, has announced that he will be flying to Brazil to ensure the transition goes smoothly.

Comments

[Tom]

THey being Watched by Federal Police....There's nothing they can try to do now. Hope they burn in hell!!!

[Raquel (NY)]

While this is great news, I would be wary of celebrating just yet. We all know what the L&S are capable of doing. It does help that the Federal Police will be on hand to watch Sean and that contempt of court can lead to imprisionment in Brazil, but this would not be the first time that they found a way of circumventing a court order.

[Raquel (NY)]

In any event, I am very excited and will keep my fingers crossed! Oh, and thanks for the update.

[João Marcelo]

I hope this whole ordeal is over for David, even though a new and harder one is about to begin...

[Camila]

This is amazing! I still have goose bumps!!

[...]

LeS uma coisa pra vcs ... Creeeeeeeeu

[Ray Adkins]

Brazil is finally showing some maturity on their judicial system!
Let's hope they are able to enforce it...

[WILLIAM E HARTNETT]

This is great news.Nonna and her castrated male cohorts still display no shame.
I find JPHorseTooth a shameful excuse for a husband/father.

[Ernest Barteldes]

I read that the family will appeal the decision.

[Thaddeus Blanchette]

They've got a mandato de segurança out right now, but that has to be ruled on in the next 24 hours. If that doesn't go through - and it's doubtful that it will - it's all over except for the whining unless they try something massively, flagrantly illegal.

[Marjorie]

Finally!

[Ana]

I just readed the judge decision and it was great, but then came the Supreme Court...I`m a brazillian disgusted by the Brazilian Judicial System! But I still that the final decision will be Sean's return to the US

[RogerPenna]

uh oh... Supreme Court meddled in... its obvious this case wouldnt solve so fast.

[Ernest Barteldes]

I kind of expected that to happen. Brazil has a lot of legal loopholes, and with a good lawyer, you can delay things like mad. I've been in legal battles
in Brazil, and as long as you have the means (or the patience, which was my case), things get delayed forever. Pity.