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Tribes gear up for big battle with Supreme Court's ICWA case





The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday will hear Adoptive Couple v. Baby Girl, an Indian Child Welfare Act case that's drawn significant attention.

Tribal interests have lined up some big names in their campaign to protect the rights of Dusten Brown, a Cherokee Nation citizen who regained custody of his daughter from a non-Indian couple. They also want to make sure the court doesn't erode ICWA, a landmark law that aims to keep Indian children in Indian homes.

As part of the effort, the National Congress of American Indians, the Native American Rights Fund and the National Indian Child Welfare Association are hosting a teleconference at 1pm today to discuss the case. Speakers include Cherokee Nation Chief Bill John Baker and attorneys for Brown and his daughter.

The organizations are also hosting a prayer gathering in front of the Supreme Court tomorrow. The gathering starts at 8am, with oral arguments set to begin at 10am.

Get the Story:
Baby Veronica’s loved ones wait for the Supreme Court to weigh in (AP 4/14)
States back federal law on adoption of Native American children as SC case goes to high court (AP 4/14)
End nears for court battle over custody of Veronica (The Charleston Post and Courier 4/15)

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

Related Stories:
ICT interview with Cherokee Nation attorney on ICWA dispute (4/11)
Supreme Court sets times for oral argument in ICWA dispute (4/2)
Turtle Talk: Guide to briefs in Supreme Court's ICWA dispute (3/29)
DOJ submits brief in support of Cherokee father in ICWA case (3/18)
Wisbar News: Possible brief in Supreme Court's ICWA dispute (3/8)
Tribes line up support as Supreme Court takes up ICWA dispute (3/6)
Blog: Supreme Court hears Cherokee Nation ICWA case in April (3/5)
Supreme Court to hear Cherokee Nation ICWA case on April 16 (02/14)
NYT Debate: Indian Child Welfare Act and the Supreme Court (01/25)
Supreme Court ruling could impact ICWA cases nationwide (1/14)
Analysis: Media fails in coverage of Cherokee ICWA dispute (1/14)
Supreme Court takes first Indian Child Welfare Act case in years (1/7)
Supreme Court considers petition in Cherokee Nation ICWA case (1/4)

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