Supreme Court issues order to finalize decision in ICWA case

Monday, July 1, 2013  

The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday issued an order to finalize its decision in Adoptive Couple v. Baby Girl, an Indian Child Welfare Act case.

Normally, the court takes 25 days to finalize a decision. But Justice Samuel A. Alito, who wrote the majority opinion, said the case will be sent to the South Carolina Supreme Court "seven days" after Friday's order.

The non-Indian couple that wants to adopt the Cherokee Nation who is at the center of the dispute was pushing the court to move quickly. She currently lives in Oklahoma with her father, Dusten Brown, a tribal citizen, and his family.

Get the Story:
James Island couple, Oklahoma man not giving up fight for chance to raise Baby Veronica (The Charleston Post and Courier 6/30)

Supreme Court Decision:
Adoptive Couple v. Baby Girl (June 25, 2013)

Oral Argument Transcript:
Adoptive Couple v. Cherokee Nation (April 16, 2013)

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

Related Stories:
Non-Indian couple rushes to resolve custody in ICWA case (6/28)
Jacqueline Keeler: Saving Baby Veronica from being Indian (6/28)
Editorial: Supreme Court got it right in Baby Veronica case (6/28)
Alex Pearl: Supreme Court sends message on Indian blood (6/27)
Turtle Talk: More thoughts on Supreme Court ICWA decision (6/27)
Native Sun News: Supreme Court goes against Indian father (6/27)
Kevin Abourezk: Nebraska reaction to decision in ICWA case (6/26)
Jennifer Gapetz: Baby Veronica is a Cherokee Nation citizen (6/26)
Lots of Links: Coverage of Indian Child Welfare Act decision (6/26)
Supreme Court rules against Cherokee father in ICWA dispute (6/25)
Cherokee Chief: Baby girl should remain with biological father (6/25)
NCAI remains hopeful after ruling in Supreme Court ICWA case (6/25)
Turtle Talk: Initial impressions of Supreme Court's ICWA ruling (6/25)
Opinion: We fought the Cherokee Nation to keep adopted child (6/25)