Cherokee Nation family looks to adopt girl at center of dispute

Tuesday, July 9, 2013  

Dusten Brown, the Cherokee Nation father whose Indian Child Welfare Act case went to the U.S. Supreme Court, is seeking to adopt his biological daughter, The Charleston Post and Courier reports.

Brown, his wife and his parents filed papers in Nowata County in Oklahoma and in Cherokee Nation court, the paper said. They are also asking the South Carolina Family Court for new proceedings in light of their family's continued custody of his daughter in Oklahoma.

The filings drew outrage from the non-Indian couple in South Carolina that wants to adopt Brown's daughter. They say the Supreme Court's decision requires resolution in their state.

The biological mother has re-emerged as well. She said she will fight adoption by anyone other than the non-Indian couple.

Get the Story:
Baby Veronica (The Charleston Post and Courier 7/9)

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:
Ben Shelly: Indian Child Welfare Act helps protect tribal culture (7/8)
Cherokee Nation father speaks out after Supreme Court ruling (7/3)
Aura Bogado: Supreme Court brings up blood in ICWA ruling (7/2)
Bill John Baker: Cherokee children are our most valuable asset (7/1)
Supreme Court issues order to finalize decision in ICWA case (7/1)
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)