Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Seattle Law, American Indian Law Journal Event on Adoptive Couple v. Baby Girl

January 29, 2014Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Here:

Yale NALSA Event on Adoptive Couple v. Baby Girl

January 29, 2014Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Deconstructing the “Baby Veronica” Case: Implications for the Future of the Indian Child Welfare Act

Friday, February 21, 5:15-6:45 p.m.

Yale Law School, New Haven, CT

Panelists:

Jacqueline Pata, Executive Director, National Congress of American Indians
Joel West Williams, Staff Attorney, Native American Rights Fund

In June 2013, the Supreme Court decided Adoptive Couple v. Baby Girl, a widely publicized case involving the adoption of a Cherokee child by non-Natives over the objections of her Cherokee father. At the heart of the controversy was the Indian Child Welfare Act, a federal law designed to protect the best interests of Native children and promote the stability and security of Indian tribes and families. This panel will explore the history behind this landmark law, the current landscape of Indian child welfare, and the implications of the “Baby Veronica” decision for the future placement of Native children. Additionally, panelists will discuss how their organizations collaborated with both tribal and non-tribal stakeholders to develop legal, media, and other advocacy strategies for the case as part of the Tribal Supreme Court Project.

Registration: http://www.rsvpbook.com/event.php?439305

This panel is part of Yale Law School’s 2014 Rebellious Lawyering Conference. To learn more about the conference, please visit: http://www.yale.edu/reblaw.

Oklahoma Company Sues Kurt Kanam/Kurt Weinreich (Fake Indian “Judge”)

January 29, 2014January 28, 2014Matthew L.M. Fletcher2 Comments

Here are the materials in Unit Corp. v. TMI Ministries (W.D. Okla.):

1 Complaint + Exhibits

5 Motion for TRO + Exhibits

8 DCT Order Granting TRO

News coverage here.

We’ve posted about the Kurt Kanam frauds here, here and here.

ILOC: Letter to President and Congress re Implementation of Recommendations

January 28, 2014January 28, 2014Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Here:

ILOC ltr

Ute Tribe Prevails in Tenth Circuit Immunity Decision on Third Party Subpoenas/Collateral Order Doctrine

January 28, 2014Matthew L.M. Fletcher2 Comments

Here are the materials in Bonnet v. Ute Indian Tribe:

CA10 Opinion

An excerpt:

The issue before us is whether a subpoena duces tecum served on a non-party Tribe and seeking documents relevant to a civil suit in federal court is itself a “suit” against the Tribe triggering tribal sovereign immunity. Exercising jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291, pursuant to the collateral order doctrine, we hold the answer is yes. We therefore reverse the district court’s denial of the Tribe’s motion to quash based on tribal immunity.

And the briefs:

Ute Opening Brief

Bonnet Brief

Ute Reply

Lower court materials here.