South Carolina Supreme Court pushed to take up ICWA case

Wednesday, January 18, 2012  

The South Carolina Supreme Court is being asked to hear an Indian Child Welfare Act case involving a member of the Cherokee Nation.

Dusten Brown, who lives in Oklahoma, regained custody of his two-year-old daughter after the tribe intervened. But non-Indian couple that adopted her is challenging the decision.

The case has generated significant media coverage and the tribe has asked for a gag order. The non-Indian couple has until Thursday to file a brief in South Carolina, KTUL-TV reported.

"My client has been fighting for custody of his child since shortly after the child's birth. He loves this child with all his heart," Brown's attorney said in a statement to KTUL.

Get the Story:
Cherokee Adoption Controversy, Father Issues Statement (KTUL-TV 1/17)
Custody Fight Over Former Oklahoma Girl Moves To South Carolina High Court (KTUL-TV 1/17)

Related Stories:
Cherokee Nation seeks gag order in ICWA dispute making news (1/5)
Cherokee Nation man wins custody of daughter in ICWA case (1/3)