Case Could Shape Native American Adoptions

SIOUX FALLS - The U.S. Supreme Court is set to decide a case that could outline the limits of a law on Native American adoptions written by a former U.S. senator from South Dakota.

The former senator, Jim Abourezk, tells the Argus Leader that he hopes the high court can look beyond the emotion involved in the case and affirm the importance of the 1978 Indian Child Welfare Act.

The case in question involves a 3-year-old Cherokee girl whose mother gave her up for adoption after her father sent a text message agreeing to relinquish his parental rights. The father later retracted his permission.

South Carolina's Supreme Court ruled that the case requires special consideration because it involves Native American parents. The U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear the case Jan. 4.

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