Turtle Talk

Here. Child was from White Earth, and both tribal counsel and expert witness argued for relative placement. Department argued mother did not have standing and forfeited the relative placement issue even though child was “not suitable for adoption” and ICWA applied. Court disagreed but still dismissed:

Here, although A.C. had earlier requested assessment as a caregiver for the children, she withdrew her request in May 2012. She was again referred to the relative assessment unit on June 19. The record does not indicate whether that referral, only one month before the hearing on review, had yet been finalized. The orders appealed from do not address that issue. Because the assessment was still pending at the time of the hearing, we conclude the issue is not ripe for appellate review.