Brackeen v. Haaland: What Does the Future Hold for the Indian Child Welfare Act?

November is both National Native American Heritage Month and National Adoption Month. Tomorrow, November 9, the U.S. Supreme Court is scheduled to hear a case that has implications related to both, Brackeen v. Haaland, which concerns the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978 (ICWA), 25 U.S.C. §§ 1901-1963. The ICWA governs the removal, placement, and return of Native American children in child welfare proceedings for both foster care and adoption. At issue on appeal is the constitutionality of the act’s child placement preferences, as set forth in 25 U.S.C. § 1915. This blog sets forth the ICWA’s child placement preferences and a brief procedural history of the case.

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Civ Pro: Assorted Forms for Self-Represented Litigants

If you are hoping to file and finish a case or lawsuit in Harris County without an attorney to represent you, you may need to file forms or follow procedures specific to pro se litigants. If you are representing yourself in a case or lawsuit, you are a self-represented, or pro se, litigant. Each court has different procedures and requirements that pro se litigants are expected to follow in the same manner as an attorney. It is always best to contact the clerk of the court where your case is assigned to ask about procedures for pro se litigants.

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