Court won't rehear ICWA case involving Cherokee Nation father

Thursday, August 30, 2012  

The South Carolina Supreme Court won't rehear an Indian Child Welfare Act case that has drawn national attention.

On July 26, the court affirmed a decision to return custody of a two-year-old girl to her father, a member of the Cherokee Nation who lives in Oklahoma. By a 3-2 vote, the court ruled that ICWA gives preference to Dusten Brown.

The non-Indian couple that wanted to adopt the girl asked for a rehearing but the request was denied last week. The couple and their supporters are lobbying Congress to change ICWA.

Get the Story:
SC Supreme Court won't rehear adoption case (AP 8/30)

South Carolina Supreme Court Decision:
Adoptive Couple v. Cherokee Nation (July 26, 2012)

Related Stories:
Opinion: ICWA punishes child returned to her Cherokee father (8/28)
Opinion: Media slanted against ICWA in South Carolina case (8/23)
Couple wants rehearing in ICWA case of Cherokee Nation girl (8/14)
Court supports return of child to Cherokee father under ICWA (7/26)
Terry Cross: Compliance with Indian Child Welfare Act needed (7/25)
New group lobbies Congress to change Indian Child Welfare Act (7/11)
Couple in ICWA case says Cherokee child is more 'Latino' (04/19)
South Carolina court hears ICWA case for Cherokee child (4/17)
Former Sen. Abourezk clarifies comment about ICWA case (01/24)
South Carolina Supreme Court pushed to take up ICWA case (01/18)
Cherokee Nation seeks gag order in ICWA dispute making news (1/5)
Cherokee Nation man wins custody of daughter in ICWA case (1/3)