Melius v. Songer, August 27, 2025 (Supreme Court of South Dakota.)
Read the full opinion at the National Indian Law Library.
custody
State justices uphold US Indian Child Welfare Act
The South Dakota Supreme Court has unanimously upheld a circuit judge’s decision requiring an American Indian child be raised by her American Indian father, rather than be placed with relatives of the child’s mother. The state’s high court publicly released the opinion on Thursday regarding the federal Indian Child Welfare Act. Read the full story at Keloland South Dakota.
Native Village of Saint Michael v. State of Alaska, Department of Family & Community Services, July 25, 2025 (Supreme Court of Alaska.)
Read the full opinion at the National Indian Law Library.
Sovereign Natchez Nation, et al. v. Riverside County Department of Social Services Children Protective Services, et al., February 13, 2025 (United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit.)
Read the full opinion at the National Indian Law Library.
In re Epik W., October 29, 2024 (Court of Appeals of Tennessee.)
Read the full opinion at the National Indian Law Library.
Legal experts say Miccosukee tribe overstepped authority in seizing baby from Miami hospital
MIAMI — The Miccosukee nation insists that it acted lawfully when its tribal court issued a child-custody order, and then sent two tribal detectives to seize newborn Ingrid Johnson from her Indian mother at a hospital. But Indian law experts and two former Miccosukee police chiefs said they believe the tribe overstepped its authority. And … Read more
Billie v. Stier, April 25, 2014 (Florida)
Synopsis provided by Westlaw: After unmarried mother who was member of Indian tribe filed custody petition in tribal court, father filed custody petition in circuit court. The Circuit Court, Miami–Dade County, entered order determining that it had jurisdiction pursuant to the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (UCCJEA). Mother filed petition for writ of … Read more