In December 2023, students in the Juvenile and Family Law Clinic and the American Indian Law Clinic completed an Indian Child Welfare Act adoption case for a family in Adams County.
The case started in September 2022 and involved a complex mix of federal and state law, as well as discovery and witnesses from multiple jurisdictions. In addition to solving practical due process issues, the students drafted dozens of pleadings and navigated complex state bureaucracies.
In the American Indian Law Clinic, Eli Martinez ('24), Kate Newman ('24), Siena Kalina ('23), and Ryann Rael ('25) worked over two years to complete this case. They upheld the requirements of the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) and worked closely with the Tribe's ICWA coordinator to ensure that the Tribes' rights and perspectives were integrated into all motions and hearings.
At the final adoption hearing, the child was surrounded by family, friends, and community, as well as the Tribe (over WebEx!). It was an emotional conclusion to a long legal case, and we are so proud of the students for their client-centered advocacy.
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