Cal. COA Decides Tribal Customary Adoption Case involving Pit River Tribe

Here is the opinion in In re A.M.

The court’s syllabus:

M.W., mother of the minor, and the Pit River Tribe (Tribe) appeal from orders terminating parental rights after reversal of the previous termination orders and remand in case No. C067143 for a new hearing on mother‟s petition for modification. (Welf. & Inst. Code, §§ 366.26, 395; further undesignated statutory references are to the Welfare and Institutions Code.) Mother argues the court erred in denying her petition for modification (§ 388) and failed to apply the Indian child exception to termination of parental rights. The Tribe raises various issues related to tribal customary adoption (TCA) and the Yolo County Department of Employment and Social Services‟ (Department) inaction with respect to TCA. We affirm the juvenile court’s orders.