This case description leaves out the names of the people involved, as it concerns the Witness Protection Program. It concerns a late 1970s administrative error on the part of the Witness Protection Program which resulted in the violation of California Penal Code Section 278. As a result, children were entered into the program without the knowledge of their father - also their legal guardian. The family in question is made up of divorced parents, and much of the confusion concerns very specific, time-sensitive questions of custody. The ACLU represented the father, who sought the return of his children.

Due to the sensitive nature of these materials, all of the available materials associated with this case are restricted until 2062.