of J.D , 2020 COA 66 ( 2020 )


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  •      The summaries of the Colorado Court of Appeals published opinions
    constitute no part of the opinion of the division but have been prepared by
    the division for the convenience of the reader. The summaries may not be
    cited or relied upon as they are not the official language of the division.
    Any discrepancy between the language in the summary and in the opinion
    should be resolved in favor of the language in the opinion.
    SUMMARY
    April 9, 2020
    2020COA66
    No. 19CA0806, Adoption of J.D. — Juvenile Court —
    Dependency and Neglect — Termination of the Parent-Child
    Legal Relationship — Stepparent Adoption; Indian Law —
    ICWA— Definitions — Indian Child
    In this stepparent adoption proceeding, biological mother
    contends that the juvenile court erred by not applying the Indian
    Child Welfare Act (ICWA) after finding that the child and father were
    eligible for enrollment. A division of the court of appeals disagrees.
    An “Indian child” means “any unmarried person who is under
    age eighteen and is either (a) a member of an Indian tribe or (b) is
    eligible for membership in an Indian tribe and is the biological child
    of a member of an Indian tribe[.]” 25 U.S.C. § 1903(4) (2018).
    Thus, although the child is eligible for enrollment, because the child
    is not a biological child of a member of an Indian tribe, the child
    does not meet ICWA’s definition of Indian child.
    COLORADO COURT OF APPEALS                                      2020COA66
    Court of Appeals No. 19CA0806
    Weld County District Court No. 18JA31
    Honorable Ryan L. Kamada, Judge
    In re the Petition of M.G.,
    Appellee,
    for the Adoption of J.D., a Child,
    and Concerning C.D.,
    Appellant.
    JUDGMENT AFFIRMED
    Division IV
    Opinion by JUDGE FURMAN
    Welling and Pawar, JJ., concur
    Announced April 9, 2020
    Melanie Jordan, Office of Respondent Parents’ Counsel, Golden, Colorado, for
    Appellee
    Cynthia Jones Fletcher, Centennial, Colorado, for Appellant
    ¶1    In this stepparent adoption proceeding, biological mother
    contends that the juvenile court erred by not applying the Indian
    Child Welfare Act (ICWA) after finding that the child and father were
    eligible for enrollment in an Indian tribe. We disagree. Although
    the child is eligible for enrollment, because the child is not a
    biological child of a member of an Indian tribe, the child does not
    meet ICWA’s definition of Indian child. 25 U.S.C. § 1903(4) (2018).
    I. The Petition for Adoption
    ¶2    The child was born in 2006 to mother and J.G. (father).
    ¶3    Stepmother filed a petition for stepparent adoption and a
    motion to terminate mother’s parental rights. Stepmother alleged
    that the child may be eligible to enroll in a tribe under ICWA, 25
    U.S.C. §§ 1901 to 1963 (2018). Stepmother sent notice to various
    tribes, and the Comanche Nation responded that the child was
    eligible for enrollment.
    ¶4    After a hearing, the juvenile court terminated mother’s
    parental rights and entered an adoption decree. The court found
    that mother had abandoned the child. Regarding ICWA, the court
    found that it did not apply because, although the child was eligible
    1
    for membership, she was not residing with a parent who was an
    enrolled member.
    II. ICWA
    ¶5    We review the juvenile court’s interpretation of ICWA de novo.
    People in Interest of A.R., 
    2012 COA 195M
    , ¶ 17.
    ¶6    ICWA applies to stepparent adoptions even where a child
    remains with one biological parent. People in Interest of N.B., 
    199 P.3d 16
    , 19-20 (Colo. App. 2007).
    ¶7    For ICWA’s substantive provisions to apply, the child must be
    an Indian child. People in Interest of N.D.C., 
    210 P.3d 494
    , 499
    (Colo. App. 2009). An “Indian child” means “any unmarried person
    who is under age eighteen and is either (a) a member of an Indian
    tribe or (b) is eligible for membership in an Indian tribe and is the
    biological child of a member of an Indian tribe[.]” 25 U.S.C. §
    1903(4). Thus, eligibility for membership, in and of itself, is not
    enough to meet the definition of an Indian child. People in Interest
    of K.R., 
    2020 COA 35
    , ¶ 5 (citing State in Interest of P.F., 
    405 P.3d 755
    , 762 (Utah Ct. App. 2017)).
    ¶8    If the party asserting the applicability of ICWA does not
    establish, on the record, that the child meets one or both of these
    2
    criteria, ICWA does not apply. See People in Interest of A.G-G., 
    899 P.2d 319
    , 321 (Colo. App. 1995).
    ¶9     Based on the record, we conclude that the child did not meet
    ICWA’s definition of “Indian child” under 25 U.S.C. section 1903(4).
    The child was not a member of the Comanche Nation. And even
    though the child was eligible to enroll, her father was not a member
    of the Tribe. Rather, he was only eligible for enrollment.
    ¶ 10   And mother does not assert that she is affiliated with any
    Tribe.
    ¶ 11   Because the child was not an “Indian child” under ICWA, we
    further conclude that the juvenile court did not have to use the
    higher burden of proof (beyond a reasonable doubt).
    ¶ 12   We note that mother does not challenge the evidence or the
    juvenile court’s findings regarding the termination of her parental
    rights.
    ¶ 13   Accordingly, we discern no basis for reversal.
    III. Conclusion
    ¶ 14   The judgment is affirmed.
    JUDGE WELLING and JUDGE PAWAR concur.
    3
    

Document Info

Docket Number: 19CA0806, Adoption

Citation Numbers: 2020 COA 66

Filed Date: 4/9/2020

Precedential Status: Precedential

Modified Date: 4/10/2020