Law | National

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

Monday, April 15, 2013

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)