## COURT OFAPPEALS SECOND DISTRICTOF TEXAS FORT WORTH NO. 2 - 0 8 - 0 6 1 - CV I N T HE I NT E R E S TOFR . R . , J R . AN D V. R . , CH I L DR E N

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FR O M THE 323RD DI STRI CT CO URT O F TARRA NT CO UN TY

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----- ----- -- I. I NTR ODUCTI ON M ot herand Fat herappeal f r om a j udg m e n tt er m i nat i ng t hei rpar ent al r ig h t st o R .R . a n d V .R . M o t h e r a s s e rt s a s h e r s o le is s u e , “ D o e st h e In d ia n C h ild W e lf a re A c t [ “IC W A ” o r “the A c t”] ap p l yto th i s c a se ? ” F a th e r r a i se s tw o i ssues: i n hi s f i r sti ssue, he chal l enges t he f act ual suf f i ci ency ofthe evi dence t o suppo rtt he fi n d i n g that t er m i nat i on of hi s par ent al r i ghtsw as i n t he best i n te re s t o f R .R . a n d V .R ., a n d i n h i s s e c o n d i s s u e , h e a rg u e sth a t th e tri a l c o u rt er r ed by notgr ant i ng a new t r i ali n l i ghtofev i den cet hatt he I C W A m ay app l y. W e w i l l o ver r ul e F at her ’ s f i r sti ssue. Because, accor di ng t o pub l i shed gui del i nes2

t hatw e ar e t o gi ve gr eatw ei ght t o, t he t r i al co urther e had r eason t o know t hat In d ia n c h ild r e n w e r e in v o lv e d , s p e c if ic s t a t u t o ryn o t ic e sc o n t a in in g s p e c if ic st at ut or i l y def i ned i nf or m at i on w er e r equi r ed t o be sentt o speci f i c i ndi vi dual s. A l t hou gh t he T exas D epart m entofFam i l y and P r ot e c t i ve S ervi ces ( “TD FPS ”) sentoutnot i ces, t hose noti ces di d not com pl yw i t h t he st at ut or y r equi si t es. A c c o rd i n g l y , w e w i l l a b a te th i sa p p e a l a n d r e m a n d t h i sc a s e to th e tri a l c o u rt so t hat pr oper noti ce m ay be pr ovi ded t o t he pr oper i ndi vi dual s and so tha t, a ft e r s uc h no t i c e , t he t r i a l c ou rt m a y c on du c t a he a r i ng a nd m ake a d e t e r mi n a t i o n a st o wh e t h e rR . R . a n d V. R . a r e I n d i a n c h i l d r e n u n d e rt h e I CW A. II . T HEI NDIANC HIL DW E L FA REA CT A . Pur poses and R el evantPr ovi si ons oft he A ct Con gr e s s e na c t e d t he I CW A i n 1978. I nd i a n Chi l d W e l f a r e Acto f1978 , 2 5 U .S .C .A . § § 1 9 0 1

– 6 3 (2 0 0 1 ). T h e f e d e r a l le g is la t io n w a sp a s s e d in res p o n se to th e “ri sing co n c e rn i n the m i d -1 9 7 0 ’s o v e r t h e co n se q u e n c e s to In d i a n c h i l d re n , I n d i a n fa m i l i e s , a n d I n d i a n tri b e so f a b u s i v e c h i l d w e l fa re pr ac t i ce s t hatr es ul t ed i n t he se par at i on of l ar ge num ber s of I ndi an chi l dr en f r om t h e irf a m ilie sa n d t r ib e st h r o u g h a d o p t io n o rf o s t e rc a r e p la c e m e n t , u s u a llyin non - I ndi an hom es. ” Miss . Ba n d o f Ch o c ta wIn d

ia n sv. Ho lyf

ield, 490 U. S. 30, 3 2 , 1 0 9 S . C t. 1 5 9 7 , 1 5 9 9

– 1 6 0 0 (1 9 8 9 ); s e ea l s o I nreW. D . H. , 43 S . W . 3d 30 , 34 ( Tex . A pp. — H oust on [ 14 t h D i st . ] 20 01 , p et . d eni ed) . The I C W A appl i es3

to a l l s ta te c h i l d c u s to d yp ro c e e d i n g si n v o l v i n g a n In d i a n c h i l d w h e n th e c o u rt k n o ws o rh a sr e a s o n t o k n o w a n I n d i a n c h i l d i si n v ol ve d. 25 U . S . C. A. § 1 9 1 2 (a ); D oty-Jabbaar v. D al l as Coun ty Chi

ld Protective S ervs. , 19 S . W . 3d 87 0, 87 4 ( Tex . A pp. — D al l as 20 00 , pet . deni ed) . A nd an I ndi an chi l d i s def i ned by t he A ctas an “unm ar r i ed per son w ho i s un derag e ei ghteen and i s ei t her( a) a m em berofan I ndi an t r i be or( b) i s el i gi bl e f orm em ber sh i p i n a n I ndi an t r i be a n d i st h e b i o l o g i c a l c h i l d o fa m e m be ro fa n I n d i a n t r i b e . ” 2 5 U. S . C. A. § 1 9 0 3 (4 ). The I C W A pr ovi desa var i et y ofpr oce dur alan d s ubs t ant i ve pr ot ec t i ons i n c hi l d c us t ody p r oceed i ngsi nvol vi ng a n I ndi an chi l d. I ts et s outm i ni m um r equi r em ent s w i t h w hi ch a st at e courtm ustcom pl y bef or e t er m i nat i ng par ent al ri g h ts i n a c a s e i n v o l v i n g a n In d ia n c h i l d . S e ei d. § 1 9 1 2 ; D oty-Jabbaar, 19 S . W . 3d at87 4. N o t er m i nat i on of par ent al r i ghtsm ay be ord e red i n such pr oce edi ng i n t he abs enc e o fa det er m i nat i on, s uppor t ed by e vi den cebe yond a r ea so nab l e d oubt , i ncl udi ng t es t i m ony ofa qua l i f i ed exp ertw i t nes s, t hatt he c o n tin u e d cu sto d yo f t h e ch i l d b ythe p a ren t or I n d i a n cu sto d i a n i s l i k e l yto re s u l t i n s e ri o u se m o ti o n a l o r p h y s ic a l d a m a g e to th e c h i l d . S ee2 5 U. S . C. A. § 191 2( f ) . A ddi t i ona l l y, t he t r i be i s ent i t l ed t o not i ceofa cus t ody pr oce edi ng i nvol vi ng a n I ndi an ch i l d and ha s t he r i ghtt o i nt erven e a tan y s t ageoft he p ro c e e d i n g s . S e ei

d. § 191 2( a) ( not i ce ) , § 1911 ( c) ( i nt erven t i on) . Butt he1 ... Th e Nel soncourtnot ed t hat“C o n gr ess consi der ed and r ej ect ed p r o p o s e d l a n g u a g e w h i c h w oul d ha v e r e s t r i c t e d t h e a p p l i c a t i o n o ft h e I CW A pr ot ect i ons t o onl y enr ol l ed m em ber s ofan I ndi an t r i be. ” Id. , 888 P. 2d a t126 n .4(c i ti n g 1 9 7 8 U .S .C .C .A .N . 7 5 3 0 , 7 5 3 8

– 3 9 , 7 5 5 8

– 6 3 ). 4 t r i be’ s f ai l ur e t o i nt erven e d oesnotm ea n t hatt he I C W A doe s notap pl y; t he IC W A a p p l i e sw h e n a n In d i a n c h i l d i si n v o l v e d re g a rd l e s so f th e tri b e ’s pa rt i ci pa t i on i n t he proc ee di ng . W. D. H. , 4 3 S .W .3 d a t 3 4 ; D oty-Jabbaar, 19 S. W . 3d a t874.

B. M em bersh i p orEl i gi bi l ity f orM em bersh i p i n aTr i be A lt h o u g h t h e A c t d e f in e s a n In d ia n c h ild a s a n “ u n m a r r ie d p e r s o n w h o is u n d e ra g e e ig h t e e n a n d ise it h e r( a ) a m e m b e ro fa n I n d ia n t r ib e o r( b ) is e lig ib le f orm em ber shi p i n an I ndi an t r i be and i s t he bi ol ogi cal chi l d ofa m em berofan I ndi an t r i be, ” t he A ctdoe s notde f i ne w hatco ns t i t ut esbe i ng a “ m em ber ” or w hatco nst i t ut es bei ng “el i gi bl e f orm em ber shi p. ” S ee2 5 U .S .C .A . § 1 9 0 3 (4 ). C as e l aw m ak es i t cl ea r , how eve r , t haten r ol l m enti n a t r i be orr egi st r at i on w i th a tri b e i s n o t th e o n l y w a y to e s ta b l i s h m e m b e rs h i p . S e e, e . g . , I nreH. D. , 11 K an. A pp. 2d 53 1, 53 5– 36 , 72 9 P. 2d 1 23 4, 1 23 8 ( C t . A pp. 1 98 6) . U nder th e IC W A , e n ro l l m e n t i sn o t a n e c e s s a ryc o n d i ti o n o f tri b a l m e m b e rs h i p . Nel son v. Hun ter, 1 3 2 O r. A p p . 3 6 1 , 3 6 4 , 8 8 8 P .2 d 1 2 4 , 1 2 5

– 2 6 (C t. A p p . 1 9 9 5 ).

“ [M ]e m b e r s h ip m a yb e e s t a b lis h e d t h r o u g h p r o o fo fe n r o llm e n t [; ] e n r o llm e n tis not t he excl usi ve t est of m em ber shi p. ” Id . 1 “Enr ol l m enti s no tal w ays r equi r ed2 ... S eeB u r e a u o fIn d ia n A f f a ir sG u id e lin e sf o rS t a t e C o u rt s ; In d ia n C h ild

C u s to d yP r o c e e d i n g s , avai l able athtt p: //w w w . ni cw a. or g/ pol i cy/ r egu l at i ons /i c w a /IC W A

_g u i d e l i n e s .p d f (l a s t v i s i te d M a rc h 1 8 , 2 0 0 9 ). 5 i n or dert o be a m em berofa t r i b e . S o m e t r i bes do not have w r i t t en r ol l s. O t h e r sh a v e ro l l s t h a tlis to n lyp e r s o n st h a tw e r e m e m b e r sa so fa c e rt a in dat e. ” Id. , 8 8 8 P .2 d a t 1 2 5 ; accord I n re Junious M. , 144 Cal . App . 3d 786, 79 1, 1 93 Ca l . Rp t r . 4 0, 4 2– 43 ( Di s t . Ct . Ap p . 1 98 3) . L i k e w i s e , t h e I CW A contai ns no bl ood quantum r equi r em ent ; r at her , each t r i be has i t s ow n cr i t er i a. S ee T h o m a s R . M y e rs & J o n a th a n J . S i e b e rs , IC W A :M yths and Mi

staken A ppl i ca ti on , 8 3 M i c h . B a r. J . 1 2 , 2 1 (2 0 0 4 ). T h e IC W A ’sfa i l u re to p ro v i d e a n ys ta tu to ryd e fi n i ti o n o f th e te rm “m em berofan I ndi an t r i be”oroft he t er m “el i gi bl e f orm em ber sh i p”r end er s t he I C W A am bi guousorunc l ea ro n exac t l y ho w m em ber sh i p orel i gi bi l i t y f or m em ber sh i p i s t o be det er m i ned , espe ci al l y i n t he abs enc e o fen r ol l m enti n or r egi st r at i on w i t h a t r i be. Butf ol l ow i ng t he ena ct m entoft he I C W A , t he D e p a rt m e n to ft h e In t e r io ris s u e d g u id e lin e sf o rs t a t e c o u rt si n I n d i a n c h ild c u s to d yp ro c e e d i n g s . S eeBu r eau of I ndi an A f f ai r s G ui del i nes f orStat e C ourt s; I nd i a n C hi l d Cus t od y Pr oc e e di ng s , 44 F e d. Re g. 67, 584 ( Nov . 26, 1979 ) (h e re i n a fte r re fe rre d to a s” G u i d e l i n e s ” ). 2T hese G ui del i nes w er e noti nt ended to h a v e b i n d i n g l e g i s l a ti v e e ffe c t. See i d. But con st r uct i on of a s t at ut e b y t he6

e x e c u ti v e d e p a rt m e n t ch a rge d w i th i ts a d m i n i strati o n is en ti tl e d to g rea t w e i g h t. S eeT e x . G o v ’t C o d e A n n . § 3 1 1 .0 2 3 (6 ) (V e rn o n 2 0 0 5 ); SW Z, I nc. v. Bd. of A d j ustm en t of City o f Fo rt Wo rth , 9 8 5 S .W .2 d 2 6 8 , 2 7 0 (T e x . A p p .— F o rt W o rth 1 9 9 9 , p e t. d e n i e d ); see al so Stanf

ord v. Bu tler, 142 Te x. 692, 700, 181 S .W .2 d 2 6 9 , 2 7 3 (1 9 4 4 ) (o b s e rv in g t h a t c o u rt s w ill o r d in a r ily a d o p ta n d u p h o ld a const r uct i on pl aced upo n a st at ut e by a depart m ent char ged w i th i ts a d m in is t r a t io n ift h e s t a t u t e is a m b ig u o u so ru n c e rt a in , a n d t h e c o n s t r u c t io n is re a s o n a b l e ); Tex. A ss 'n of Long D i

stanc e Tel. Cos. v. Pub. U ti l. Com m 'n of Tex. , 7 9 8 S .W .2 d 8 7 5 , 8 8 4(T e x . A p p .— A u s ti n 1 9 9 0 , w ri t d e n i e d ) (sa m e ). Fol l ow i ng cou rt s f r om o t herj ur i sdi ct i ons, at l easto ne Tex as cou rthas l ooked to th e G u i d e l i n e si n c o n s tr u in g a n u n d e fi n e d te rm i n th e A c t. S e eY a vap a iA p a ch eT

r ib ev. Me

jia , 9 0 6 S .W .2 d 1 5 2 , 1 6 3

– 6 4( T e x . A p p .— H o u sto n [ 1 4 th D i st . ] 19 95 , or i g. pr oceedi ng) ( ut i l i zi ng I C W A G ui del i nes t o const r ue und ef i ned t erm — “g oo d cau se”

— i n IC W A ); s e ea l s o Juni o usM. , 14 4 C al . A pp. 3d at 79 3– 94 , 19 3 C al . Rp t r . at 4 3– 44 ( ut i l i zi ng G ui del i nes t o const r ue und ef i ned t e r m “ m e m b e r”i n IC W A ); H. D. , 11 K an. A pp. 2d at53 3– 36 , 72 9 P . 2d at 12 37 –3 9 ( ut i l i zi ng G ui del i ne st o de t e r m i ne w hen and underw hatci r cum st ances tri b a l n o ti c e a n d o p p o rtu n i tyto b e h e a rd e x i s t). T h u s , w e n e x t e x a m in e t h e G u id e lin e s f o rin s t r u c t io n o n h o w m e m b e r s h ip orel i gi bi l i t y f orm em ber sh i p i n a t r i be i s t o be det er m i ned ab se nten r ol l m entor7

r egi st r at i on i n a t r i be . Th e Gui de l i ne s be gi n by r e c og ni z i ng t ha t t he r e i s a pr ef er ence f orkeepi ng I ndi an chi l dr en w i t h t hei rf am i l i es orw i t h o therI ndi an f am i l i esan d f orde f er r i ng t o t r i bal j udgm ent on m att er s con ce r ni ng c us t ody of t r i balch i l dr en. BI A G ui del i nesf or S t ateCourt s; I ndi an C hi l d Cust ody Pr oce edi ngs , 44 F ed. Reg. at 67, 586 . The G ui del i ness t at e t hat“ [ p] r oce edi ngs i n st at e court s i nvol vi ng t he cus to d yo f I ndi an chi l dr en shal l f ol l ow st r i ct pr ocedu r es and m eetst r i ngen tr equi r em ent s t o j ust i f y any r esul ti n an i ndi vi dual case cont r ar y t o th e se p ref er ences. ” Id . The A ctand al l r egul at i ons, gui del i nes , an d s t at e s t at ut esr el at i ng t o i t “s hal l be l i ber al l y c ons t r ued i n f avo r ofa r es ul tt hati s con si st entw i t h t hes e pr ef er enc es . A ny a m bi gui t i esi n a ny o f su ch st at ut es , r egu l at i ons , r ul es , orgui del i ness hal l ber es ol ved i n f avo roft he r esul tt hati s m ostconsi st entw i t h t hese pr ef er ences. ” Id . The Gui del i nespr ovi de sp ec i f i c i ns t r uct i onson h ow t o de t er m i ne t he st at usofan al l ege d I ndi an chi l d: W h e n a s t a t e c o u rth a sr e a s o n t o b e lie v e a c h ild in v o lv e d in a c h ild cus t ody pr oce edi ng i s an I ndi an, th ec o urtsh a ll s ee k v er i f i ca t i on of t he chi l d’ s st at usf r om ei t hert he Bur ea u ofI ndi an A f f ai r s or t he chi l d’ s t r i be.

. . . . The de t er m i nat i on b y a t r i be t hata chi l d i s ori s nota m em berof t hatt r i be, i s ori s no tel i gi bl e form em ber shi p i n t hattr i be, o rt hat t h e b io lo g ic a l p a r e n tiso risn o ta m e m b e ro ft h a tt r ib e is concl usi ve.8 . . . . Ci r c um s t a nc e s un de r w hi c h a s t a t e c ou rt ha s r e a s on t o be l i eve a chi l d inv ol ved i n a chi l d cust ody p r oceedi ng i s an I ndi an i ncl ude. . . ( i ) A ny p art y t o t he ca se. . . i nf or m s t he cou rtt hatt he chi l d i s an I ndi an chi l d. . . . ( i i ) A ny publ i c orst at e- l i censed agency i nvol ved i n chi l d pr ot ect i on ser v i ces orf am i l y suppo rthas di scover ed i nf or m at i on w hi ch suggest s t hat t he chi l d i s a n I n di an chi l d.

. . . . In a n yi n v o l u n ta ryc h i l d c u s to d yp ro c e e d i n g , th es ta tec o urtsh a ll m ake i nqui r i esto deter m i ne i fthe chi l d i nvol ved i s a m em berofan I ndi an t r i be ori fa par entoft he chi l d i s a m em berofan I ndi an t r i be and t he chi l d i s el i gi bl e f orm em ber shi p i n an I ndi an t r i be. Id. at67, 586 ( em pha si s add ed) . T he c om m ent ary t o t hi s se ct i on oft he G u i d e l i n e s, w h i c h i s t i tl e d “B .1 . D e term i n a ti o n T h a t C h i l d I s an I n d i a n ,” i n stru c ts t hat“ [ t ] hi s gui del i ne m ak escl ea rt hatt he be st so ur ceofi nf or m at i on on w het hera part i cul arch i l d i s I ndi an i s t he t r i be i t se l f . I ti s t he t r i be’ s pr er oga t i ve t o det er m i ne m em ber shi p cr i t er i a. ” Id .; s e eInreA dop tio no f Rif f le , 2 7 3 M o n t. 2 3 7 , 2 4 2 , 9 0 2 P .2 d 5 4 2 , 5 4 5 (1 9 9 5 ) (r e c o g n i zi n g tha t t h e tr i b e i s th e u l ti m a te a u t h o r it yo n e lig ib ilit yf o rt r ib a l m e m b e r s h ip a n d t h e t r ib e ’s d e t e r m in a t io n is c o n c l u s i v e ); see al

so Junious M . , 14 4 C al . A pp. 3 d at 788 , 19 3 C al . Rp t r . at 40 ( sa m e) . The com m ent ary f urt herpr ovi dest hat“[ a] l t hough t r i balve r i f i ca t i on i s pr ef er r ed, a cou rtm ay w antt o s ee k v er i f i ca t i on f r om t he BI A [ Bur ea u of9

I ndi an A f f ai r s] in cert ai n ci r cum st ances. ” BI A G ui del i nes f orStat e C ourt s; I nd i a n Chi l d Cus t od y Pr oc e e di ng s , 44 F e d. Re g. a t67, 586. T h e c o m m e n t a ryt o s e c t io n B .1 . o ft h e G u id e lin e sa ls o in d ic a t e st h a titis th e t r i al court ’ s and t he pet i t i oner ’ s bur den t o m ake i nqu i ry suf f i c i e n t t o a ffir m a ti v e l yd e te rm i n e w h e th e r th e c h i l d i sa n In d i a n o r n o t. T h e c o m m e n ta ry e x p l a i n s , The gu i del i nesal so l i sts eve r alci r cum st anc esw hi ch shal l tr i gger an i nqui ry by the courtand petiti oners t o d e t e r m in e w h e t h e ra c h ild is an I ndi an f orpur pos esoft hi s A ct . Thi s l i st i ng i s noti nt end ed t o be com pl et e, buti tdoe s l i stt he m os tco m m on ci r cum st anc esgi vi ng r i set o a r ea so nab l e b el i eft hata chi l d m ay be an I ndi an. Id. (e m p h a s i sa d d e d ). Thus , ac cor di ng t o t he G ui del i nes , m em ber sh i p i s t o be det er m i ned by t he t r i be, and t he t r i al courtand t he pet i t i oner( as evi denced by t he G ui del i nes’ use ofm and at ory “ sh al l ” l ang uag e i n t hr eepl ac es ) ar e t o m ak e i nqui r i est o r es ol ve th e i ss u e o f w h e th e r t h e ch i l d i s an I n d i a n w h e n the tr i a l co u rth a s re a so n to bel i eve t hatt he chi l d i s an I ndi an because anypart y says he i s orbecause a st at e- l i censed agencyi nvol ved i n chi l d pr ot ect i on ser vi ces has di scover ed i n fo rm a ti o n w h i c h s u g g e s ts th a t th e c h i l d i sa n In d i a n c h i l d . See i d. C . “I NQUI RY”AN DN OTIC E Th e exacti nqu i ry t hat t he t r i al court — orher e TD FPS on behal foft he t r i al cou rt — i s r equ i r ed t o m ak e i s se tf ort h i n s ec t i on 23. 11 ofvo l um e 2 5 o ft he10

C odeofFe der alRegul at i ons . 25 C. F. R. § 23. 11 ( 200 8) . Thats ec t i on i s t i t l ed, “N ot i ce ofI nvol untary C hi l d C ust ody Pr oceedi ngs and Paym ent f orA ppo i nt ed C oun sel i n S t at e C ourt s. ” Id. I t pro v i d e s, i n p e rt i n e n t pa rt : (a ) I n a n yi n v o l u n ta ryp ro c e e d i n g i n a s ta te c o u rt w h e re th e c o u rt kno w s orha s r ea so n t o kno w t hatan I ndi an chi l d i s i nvol ved , an d w her e t he i den t i t y a nd l oca t i on oft he chi l d’ s I ndi an par ent s or cus t odi ansor t r i be i s kno w n, t he part y se ek i ng . . . t er m i nat i on of par ent al r i ghtst o [ ] an I ndi an chi l d shal l di rec tl y noti f y t he I ndi an p a re n ts . . . a n d th e c h i l d ’s tri b e b y c e rti fi e d m a i l w i th re t u rn r ec ei ptr equ es t ed, oft he pend i ng pr oce edi ngsand oft hei rr i ghtof i nt ervent i on. N ot i ce shal l i ncl ude r equi si t e i nf or m at i on i denti f i ed at par agr aph s ( d) ( 1) t hr ough ( 4) and ( e) ( 1) t hr ough ( 6) oft hi s se ct i on, c on s i s t e ntw i t h t hec on f i de nt i a l i t y r e qu i r e m e nti n pa r a gr a ph ( e ) ( 7) oft hi s se ct i on. Copi esoft hes e n ot i ce s sh al l b e se ntt o t he Secr et ary a nd t he app r opr i at e Ar ea D i r ec t orl i st ed i n pa r ag r aph s ( c) ( 1) t hr ough ( 12) oft hi s se ct i on. ( b) I ft he i denti t y orloc a ti o n oft he I ndi an par ent s, I ndi an cus t odi ansort he chi l d’ s t r i be ca nnotbede t er m i ned , not i ceoft he pend ency of any i nvol untary chi l d cust ody pr oceedi ng i nvol vi ng an In d ia n c h i l d i n a s tate co u rtsh a l l b e se n t byce rt i fi e d m a i l w i th r e tu rn re c e i p t re q u e s te d to th e a p p ro p ri a te A re a D i re c to r l i s t e d in par agr aphs ( c) ( 1) t hr oug h ( 12 ) oft hi s sect i on. I n or dert o est abl i sh t r ib a l id e n t it y , itisn e c e s s a ryt o p r o v id e a sm u c h in f o r m a t io n a sis kno w n o n t h e I n d i a n c h i l d ’ s d i r e c t l i n e a l a n c e s t o r s i n c l u d i n g , but no tl i m i t e d t o, t hei nf or m a t i on d e l i ne a t e d a tp a r a gr a ph ( d) ( 1) t hr ough ( 4) oft hi s se ct i on. Id. Thus , unde rei t heroft hes e s ubs ec t i ons — t hati s w het hert he i den t i t y a nd l oca t i on of t he chi l d’ s t r i be i s kno w n or unk now n— t he not i cei s t o i ncl udet he i n fo rm a ti o n d e l i n e a te d i n p a ra g ra p h (d )(1 )– (4 ). Id.11

S ect i on 2 3. 11 , p a ragr aph ( d) ( 1) t hr oug h ( 4) r equi r es t hatt he noti ce i ncl udet he nam e o ft he I ndi an chi l d, t he chi l d’ s bi rt hda t e a nd bi rt hp l ac e, t he nam e oft he I ndi an t r i be( s) i n w hi ch t he chi l d i s enr ol l ed orm ay be el i gi bl e f or enr ol l m ent , “al l n am es know n, and cur r entand f or m eraddr essesoft he I ndi an c h i l d ’s b i o l o g i c a l m o th e r, b i o l o g i c a l fath e r, m a tern a l an d p a tern a l g ran d p a ren ts and gr ea tgr and par ent s . . . i nc l udi ng m ai den , m ar r i ed and f or m erna m esor al i as es ; bi rt hda t es ; pl ac esofbi rt h and deat h; t r i balenr ol l m entnum ber s and /or ot heri denti f yi ng i nfo rm at i on. ” Id. § 23. 11( d) ( 1) –( 4) . L i ke w i se , w het hert he i denti t y and l ocat i on ofthe chi l d’ s t r i be i s kno w n orunkno w n, not i ce i s r equi r ed t o be sentt o th e “ a p p r opr i at e A r ea D i r ect or . ” Id. § 23. 11( a) , ( b) . Fo r pr oceedi ngs i n T exas ( except f or pr oceedi ngs i n t he Tex as count i es ofEl Paso and H uds pet h) , t he not i ce i s t o be se nt t o “ A nad ar ko A r ea D i r ec t or , Bur ea u of I ndi an A f f ai r s, P . O . B ox 36 8, A nadar ko, O kl ahom a 73 00 5. ” Id. § 2 3 .1 1 (c )(4 ). Th e not i ce i s t o i ncl ude “t he l ocat i on, m ai l i ng add r ess, and t el epho ne num ber oft he courtand al l part i es not i f i ed pur suantt o t hi s sect i on. ” Id. § 2 3 .1 1 (e )(4 ). A co py o ft he pet i t i on, co m pl ai nt , orot herdoc um entby w hi ch t he p ro c e e d i n g w a sin i ti a te d ist o b e a tta c h e d t o t h e n o ti c e . Id. § 23. 11( d) ( 4) . The not i ce i s al so r equ i r ed t o i ncl udeot hercr i t er i a, al l ofw hi ch ar e s etf ort h i n t he s ta tu te . See i

d. § 23 . 11.12

W h e n a c o p yo ft h e n o t ic e iss e rv e d o n t h e S e c r e t a ryo ft h e In t e r io r , h is desi gnee sh al l m ak e r ea so nab l e d ocu m ent ed ef f ort s t o l oca t e and not i f y t he c hi l d’ st r i be. . . . Th e Se c r e t a ry orh i s / he rd e s i gn e e s ha l l h a ve15 day s, aft err ec ei ptoft he not i cef r om t he per so nsi ni t i ati ng t he pr oc e e d i n g s, t o noti f y t he chi l d’ s t r i be . . . . I fw i t hi n t he 1 5- day t i m e per i od t he S ecr et ar y or hi s/ her desi gnee i s unab l e t o ver i f y t hat t hec hi l d m e e t st hec r i t e r i a o fa n I ndi a n c hi l d a sd e f i ne d i n 25 U .S .C . 1 9 0 3 , . . . th e S e c re ta ry o r h i s /h e r d e s i g n e e s h a l l s o i n fo rm t he court pr i or t o i ni t i at i on of t he pr oceedi ngs and st at e how m uch m or e t i m e, i fan y, w i l l bene ede d t o c om pl et e t he se ar ch. S e ei d. § 2 3 .1 1 (f). D . T HEP RE SE NTF ACTS I n t he pr es entcas e, t he A ss i st antD i st r i ctA t t or neyw ho pr os ec ut ed t he t er m i nat i on s ui ts ent out f our not i ce s; t w o con ce r ni ng R. R. w er e f i l ed w i t h t he cou rton Se pt em ber19, 2007 , an d t w o na m i ng bo t h R . R . an d V. R. ast he c hi l dr e n s ubj e c tt o t het e r m i na t i on s ui tw e r e f i l e d du r i ng t r i a l o n Fe br ua ry 13, 20 08 . Tw o oft he f ournot i ces w er e l abel ed as di r ect ed t o “t he K i ow a I ndi an N at i on, ” and tw o w er e l abel ed as di r ect ed t o “Th e Secr et ary oft he U ni t ed S ta te s D e p a rtm e n t o f th e In te ri o r.”B u t a l l fo u r n o ti c e sw e re m a i l e d o n l yto M r. D a v i d A n d e rs o n , A s s i s ta n t S e c re ta ryF o r In d i a n A ffa i rs , a n d t o M o th e r, F a th e r, a n d th ec o u rt-a p p o i n te d a tto rn e yfo r R .R . a n d V .R . N o n e o f th e n o ti c e sw e re m ai l ed t o t he A r e a D i r ect or , and non e oft he noti ces w er e m ai l ed by cert i f i ed m a il o rb yre g is t e r e d m a il.13

A l l f ouroft he noti ces di scl osed t hata par ent al ter m i nat i on sui thad been f ile d c o n c e r n in g R .R . ( o rR .R . a n d V .R .) a n d s t a t e d t h a tM o t h e rw a sa lle g e d ly a n In d ia n a s d e f in e d in t h e IC W A a n d t h a t R .R . (o r R .R . a n d V .R .) w e r e a lle g e d ly I ndi an chi l dr en unde rt he I C W A . The not i ce s di r ec t ed to t he Ki ow a Nat i on s t a t e d t h a t“ [t ]h e c h ild [R .R . ( o rR .R . a n d V . R . ) ] w h o ist h e s u bje c to ft h is pr oce edi ng i s bel i eve d t o be a m em beroforel i gi bl e f orm em ber sh i p i n a f ede r al l y r ec ogni z ed I ndi an t r i be. ” T he not i ce s di r ec t ed t o t he Secr et ary oft he U ni t ed St at esD epa rt m entofI nt er i or — butnott he not i ce s di r ec t ed t o t he Ki ow a N at i on— st at ed t hat“M at er nal G r andm ot herM I N N I E M A R I E A U N I Q U E ( aka AUN QUE , AU NE QUE ) , a l l e g e s t o b e a me mb e r o ft h e K I OW A I NDI AN NAT I ON, i n O K L A H O M A .” The t er m i nat i on s ui tco nce r ni ng R. R. an d V. R. w asca l l ed t o t r i alon F e b ru a ry5 , 2 0 0 8 . A t th e c o n c l u s i o n o f te s ti m o n yo n F e b ru a ry5 , th e tri a l c o u rt i nd i c a t e d t ha tt het r i a l w ou l d ber e s um e d a nd co m pl e t e d on F e br ua ry 13, 2008 . O n Fe br uary 13, 2008 , at9 : 30 a. m . , t he t r i alco urtr es um ed t he t er m i nat i on t r i al . O n Fe br uary 13, 2008 at11: 58 a. m . , i n a ddi t i on t o f i l i ng t w o oft he f our noti ces m ent i oned above, t he A ssi st antD i st r i ctA t t or ney f i l ed a docum entt hat3 ... W e w o u l d h a v e l i k e d to a ttac h a co p y o f t h i s fo rm as A p p e n d i xA to

o u ro p in io n , b u tt o d o s o w o u ld h a v e re v e a le d R .R .’ s , V .R .’ s , a n d M o t h e r ’s f u ll nam es. 14 app ea r s t o bea si ng l e-pag e f or m ap par ent l y f i l l ed outby t he Ki ow a Tr i be of O kl ahom a I ndi an C hi l d W el f ar e pr ogr am . 3 Th e f or m i s addr essed t o “Enr ol l m entD epart m ent ” and i s f r om “I n d i an C hi l d W el f ar e Pr ogr am , ” sp ec i f i ca l l y S. A ht one . The su bj ec tr ef er enc ed i n t he m em o- t ype f or m i s “M i nor s ce rt i f i ca t e o fde gr eeofI ndi an bl ood ( C . D . I . B. ) & /or s t a t e m e n to fe lig ib ilit yf o re n r o l l m e n t . ” T h e f o r m s t a t e st h a t“ [t ]h e C h ild W el f ar e Pr ogr am i s r equest i ng t h e fo l l ow i ng: C hi l d( r en) and Fam i l y Tri bal B a c k g r o u n d R e p o rt . ” Th e f o r m s p e c i f i c a l l yn a me sR. R . , V. R . , a n d M o t h e r . At t h e b o t t o m o ft h e f o r m , in t h e “ C o m m e n t s ” s e c t io n u n d e rt h e h e a d in g “ E lig ib le f orE nr ol l m e nt : ( ) YES () NO , ” t hee nr ol l m e nto f f i c e rh a sw r i t t e n, “ [ N] e ed mo r e i n f o , p r o b a b l yu n d e rb l o o d q u a n t u m, ” a b o v e h i s / h e ri l l e g i b l e s i g n a t u r e . At t he bott om ofthe req uest , i n t he sa m e h and w r i t i ng a s t he chi l dr en’ s and m o t h e r ’s n a m e sf ille d in o n t h e f o r m , is “ M a t e r n a l g r a n d m o t h e rM in n ie M a r ie Anqu e . ” Th e e nr ol l m e nto f f i c e rw r ot e u nd e rt hi sc om m e nt , “ K00416 1⁄2 K i ow a, ” appar ent l y i ndi cat i ng t hatM ot her ’ s m ot her , M i nni e M ar i e A nqu e, w as o n e -h a l f K i o w a .4 ... W e h a v e th o ro u g h lyre v ie w e d th e re p o rt e r’s re c o rd fr o m th e tr ia l. In

a d d i ti o n , w e p e rfo rm e d a w o r d s e a r c h o n th e A S C II d i s c fi l e d b yth e c o u rt r eport eras w el l as a w or d sear ch i n t he har d copyoft he w or d i ndex p r ovi ded b ythe cou rtr eport er . N ow her e i n t he r ecor d dur i ng t r i al does M ot hert esti fy t hats he i s nota m em beroft he Ki ow a Nat i on ort hatR. R. an d V. R. ar e n ot m em ber s. H er t es t i m ony on t hi s i ss ue att r i ali s m i ni m al ; s he t es t i f i est hats he i s l oo k i n g i n t o g e t t i n g I n d i a n W e l f a r e b e n e f i t sf o rt h e c h i l d r e n b u ti sh a v i ng di f f i cul t y obtai ni ng i nf or m at i on abo ut her m ot her , w ho w as a r egi st er ed m em ber oft he Ki ow a Nat i on, be ca us e h erm ot herdi ed w hen s he w ast w o ye ar s ol d. 15 T h e t r ia l c o u rtd id n o ta p p lyt h e IC W A a tt r ia l. 4M ot herf i l ed a m ot i on f or new t r i alas se rt i ng t hatt he I C W A a pp l i ed and t es t i f i ed att he hea r i ng on t he m ot i on con cer ni ng heral l eged K i ow a ancest ry. A tt he m o t i on f ornew t r i al hear i ng, M ot hert est i f i ed, i n pert i nent part , as f ol l ow s: Q . A n d i sy o u r m o th e r M i n n i e M a ri e A n q e [sic ]? A . Y e s , sir. Q . A nd w as she a m em beroft he K i ow a I ndi an t r i be? A . Y e s , sir. Q . Are g i s te re d m e m b e r? A . Y es. Q . And do yo u k now w hethe ryou ’ r e a r egi st er ed m em beroft he K i ow a I ndi an t r i be? A . I ’m s u p p o s e d l ya m e m b e r o f i t b e c a u s e I’ m In d i a n , b u t I d o n ’t k n o w n o th i n g a b o u t i t. Y e s , sir. Q . Do you k now w het hert he chi l dr en, w het hert heyw ou l d be el i gi bl e m em ber s?16

A . Y es, si r , because m e and m y f am i l y i s, t hey shou l d be atl east a l i ttl e b i t. Le ss tha n h a l f. P rob a b l yab o u t ha l f.

. . . . Q . [ M ot her ] , you sai d you ’ r e an el i gi bl e t r i bal m em ber , i s t hat c o rr e c t? A . Y e s , ma ’ a m. O n c r os s- exa m i nat i on M ot hert es t i f i ed: Q . Do you r em em berco m i ng t o t hi s cou rtdur i ng t he t r i alan d te l l i n g th e j u d g e a n d e v e ry o n e i n t h i sc o u rtro o m t h a t y o u r m o th e r, w ho i s t he m at er nal gr andm ot her t o your chi l dr en, w as a m em ber oft he K i ow a I ndi an t r i be? A . Y es. Q . A nd do you r em em ber w hen I asked you i fyou w er e a m em ber oft he I ndi an t r i be? Do you r em em bert hatque st i on? A . Y e s , ma ’ a m. Q . A n d d o y o u r e c a ll s a y in g n o , I a m n o t a m e m b e r ? D o y o u re c a ll sa y i n g tha t? A . N o , m a ’am , I d o n ’t . Q . Do you r ec al l s ayi ng t hatyou kn ew t hatw ass om et hi ng y ou needed t o l ook i nt o as t o t he m em ber shi p f ort he t r i be? A . Y e s , ma ’ a m. Q . S o you do n’ tknow i fyou’ r e a m em ber ; you j ustknow t hat you’ r e an el i gi bl e t r i bal m em berbecause you r m ot herw as a m e m b e r? A . N o . W h a t I h a d s u p p o s e d l yk n o w n - -17

[T H E C O U R T ]: I ’m s o rry . W o u l d y o u s a yth a t a g a i n ? I c o u l d n ’t unde r st and you . A . W h a tI s u p p o s e d l yf o u n d o u t , t o o , i st h a tI h a v e a n a u n td o wn her e. S he know s I ’ m el i gi bl e f or bei ng an I ndi an, to o , b e c a use t h a t ’s m ym o m ’s s is t e r , a n d I ju s tf o u n d o u tt h a ts h e w a s h e r e in FortW ort h. Q . I s i tt r ue t hatyou’ r e el i gi bl e t o be a t r i balm em beroft he Ki ow a N at i on? A . Y e s , ma ’ a m. Q . I s t hatt r ue? A . Y e s , ma ’ a m.

. . . . Q . Have y ou --[ M ot her ] , ha ve you eve rr egi st er ed w i t h t he Ki ow a N at i on? YesorN o. A . Y es, I have. Q . W h e n d i d y o u d o tha t? A . W hen I w asbor n. They di d t hatw hen I w asbor n. I ’ m I ndi an. Q . O kay. But you tol d t hi s court th a t y o u w er e nota t r i bal m e m b e r. A . N o , m a ’am , I d i d n o t sa y th a t. Y o u g u y s m i su n d e rsto o d tha t. I ha d t ol d you I ’ m el i gi bl e and I ’ m a m em berofi t , be ca us e m y m om

--on m y m om ’ s si de oft he f am i l y i s not hi ng bu tI ndi an. Q . O ka y. A . A n d I h a d t o ld t h e ju d g e t h a t , t o o , a n d e v e ry b o d yt h a tw a sin t he cou rt r oom t hatda y.18

Q . O k a y . Y o u r m o t h e r isa t r ib a l m e m b e ro ft h e K io w a N a t io n , is th a t co rr e c t? A . Y es. Q . I s sh e a l i ve orde ce as ed? A . She’ s dec ea se d. Q . O ka y. And you t hi nk you’ r e a m em ber--t od ay , you t hi nk y o u ’re a m e m b e r b e c a u s e s o m e o n e re g i s te re d y o u w h e n y o u w e re a b a b y , i s th a t r i g h t? A . Y e s. Becau se I know , because t hey have to do t hatw hen you’ r e I ndi an. W hen t heyknow t hatyourf am i l y on ones i de oft he f am i l y i s an I ndi an t hat ’ s al r eady reg i st er ed, t hey have to r egi st er t he ki ds. The t r i alco urtde ni ed M ot her ’ s and Fa t her ’ s m ot i onsf orne w t r i albutf ound t hatM ot her ’ s and Fa t her ’ s app ea l s oft he t er m i nat i on j udgm entw er e n ot f r iv o lo u s . M o t h e ra n d F a t h e rp e r f e c t e d t h isa p p e a l.

E . A p p l i c a ti o n o f t h eLa w to th eP res e n t Fa c ts M o t h e r , in h e rf ir s tis s u e , c la im st h a t t h e IC W A a p p lie s h e r e . F a t h e r , in h iss e c o n d is s u e , c la im st h a tt h e t r ia l c o u rte r r e d b y n o t g r a n t in g a n e w t r ia l in l i g h t o f t h e e v i d e n c e t h a t t h e I CW A m a ya p p l y . T DF P S a r g u e st h a tt h e I CW A d o e sn o t a p p l y ; T D F P S ’sb ri e f fo c u s e so n th e i s s u e o f w h e th e r th e tri a l c o u rt had r eason t o bel i eve t hatR. R . and V . R . w er e I ndi an chi l dr en and ar gues t hat i t did n o t.19

T D F P S re l i e s o n fi v e m a i n c a s e sfo r th e p ro p o s i ti o n th a t th e tri a l c o u rt her e had no r ea so n t o bel i eve t hat t he chi l dr en w er e I ndi an chi l dr en. W e h ave r e v ie w e d e a c h o f t h e s e c a s e s a n d t h e f a c t s in a ll o f t h e m a r e d i s t in g u is h a b le fro m th e p re s e n t fa c ts . S e eInreR.M.W. , 188 S . W . 3d 831, 832 ( Tex. A p p .— T e x a r k a n a 2 0 0 6 , n o p e t .) (f a ilin g t o m e n t io n , r e c o g n iz e , o ra p p ly G u id e l i n e s ); s eeal

soI n re Johans on , 1 5 6 M i c h . Ap p . 6 0 8 , 6 1 3

– 1 4, 402 N . W . 2d 13 , 16 ( C t . A pp. 19 86 ) (af f i r m i ng di r ectappeal oft er m i nat i on or der w hen m ot herw as notm em ber of t r i be pr i ort o or derand no evi dence exi st ed i n re c o rd th a t tri a l c o u rt h a d a n yre a s o n to b e lie v e In d i a n c h i l d re n w e re i n v o l v e d ); I

nreGua rd

i a n shi p o f J. O. , 327 N. J. Su pe r . 304, 316– 17, 743 A. 2d 341 , 347 ( Super . Ct . A pp. D i v. ) ( hol di ng att or ney ’ s r ef er enc e t o poss i bi l i t y of I n d i a n an c e stryd u ri n g sta tu s c o n fere n c e ins u ffi c i e n t to p rov i d e tri a l co u rtw i th rea so n to b e l i e v e ch i l d ren w e re I n d i a n ch i l d ren w h e n p a rt i e s w e re p rov i d e d w i th a m p l e o p p o rtu n i tyt o p u rs u e t h e is s u e b u t d i d n o t), c ert . denied, 165 N. J. 492 (2 0 0 0 ) ; I

n re A . L. , 20 01 N D 59 , ¶ 1 2, 62 3 N . W . 2d 41 8, 42 2 ( hol di ng t hat w hen m ot her of f er ed no evi den ce t o su gge stt he chi l dr en w er e I ndi an chi l dr en, butr el i ed upon herco uns el ’ s st at em ent s, t r i alco urtha d no r ea so n t o be l i eve c h i l d re n w e re In d i a n c h i l d re n ); I nreAr i a nn aR. G. , 2003 W I App 11, ¶ 21 , 259 W i s. 2d 563, ¶ 21, 657 N . W . 2d 363, ¶ 2 1 ( hol di ng t r i alco urtdi d notha ve20

r ea s o n t o b e l i e v e c h i l d r e n w e r e I n d i a n c h i l d r e n b a s e d s o l e l y o n s t a t e m e n t sof a tto rn e y ). W e d e c l i n et o f o l l o w InreR.M.W. bec aus e n ei t hert he t r i alco urtnort he app el l at e c ourti n R.M.W. m ent i oned orgave pr operw ei ght t o t he G ui del i nes. 188 S . W . 3d a t832. Her e , u nl i k e i n t hef ou rot he rca s e sr e l i e d up on by TDFP S, i n w hi ch t he onl y evi den ceoft he chi l dr en’ s pos si bl e I ndi an st at usca m e f r om a rgu m en t s of co un sel , t he r e i s ev i de nc e fr om t he t r i be t ha tt he ch i l d re n ’s m at er nalgr and m ot herw asan en r ol l ed m em ber and an i ndi ca t i on t hatt he t r i be n e e de d m ore i nform ati on t o d eter m i ne w he t he rR . R . an d V . R . w ere m e m b e rs o r w e re e l i g i b l e for m e m b e rsh i p . A n d h e re, u n l i k e th o se fo u r c a se s, the p a rt y se ek i ng t er m i nat i on di d gi ve so m e t ypeofnot i ce — al t hough for ther ea so ns di sc us se d bel ow i t w as def ec t i ve. A nd f i nal l y, her e, ac cor di ng t o the G u i d e lin e s , th e tri a l c o u rt d i d h a v e re a s o n to b e l i e v e th a t R .R . a n d V .R . w e re I ndi an chi l dr en. A ccor di ng t o t he G ui del i nes, the t r i al co urther e had r eason t o bel i eve t hat R . R . and V . R . ar e I ndi an chi l dr en because a pub l i c orst at e- l i censed agency i nvol ved i n chi l d pr ot ect i o n s e rvi ces orf am i l y suppo rt — TD FPS

— di scover ed i n fo rm at i on— t hatt he chi l dr en’ s m at er nal gr andm ot herw as al l eged t o be a m e m b e r o f th e K i o w a In d i a n N a ti o n — th a t s u g g e s ts th a t R .R . a n d V .R . a re I ndi an chi l dr en. BI A G ui del i nesf orS t ate C ourt s; I ndi an C hi l d Cust ody21

P roc e e d i n g s , 4 4F e d . R e g . a t 6 7 ,5 8 6 . O n c e the sta te c o u rth a d rea so n to bel i evet hatR. R. an d V. R. w er e I ndi an chi l dr en, t he not i cepr ovi si onsoft he IC W A w e re tri g g e re d . Id . (pro v i d i n g tha t w h e n a s tate c o u rth a s re a so n to b e l i e v e a c h i l d i n v o l v e d i n a c h i l d c u s t o d yp r o c e e d i n g i sa n I n d i an, th ec o urt sh a ll s e e kv e ri fi c a ti o n o f th e c h i ld ’ss ta tu sfro m e i th e r th e B IAo r th e c h i l d ’s t r i be) . The i nqui ry i s t o c ont ai n s pec i f i c i nf or m at i on, pr es um abl y t o e nab l e t he t r i be t o m ak e a de t er m i nat i on on w het hert he chi l d i s, i n f ac t , a m em beroft he tri b e o r i se l i g i b l e f o r m e m b e rs h i p i n th e tri b e . S ee2 5 C .F .R . § 2 3 .1 1 (d )(1 )– (4 ). Th e not i ces senti n t hi s case w er e def i ci enti n sever al r espect s. They w e r e n o t s e n t c e rti fi e d m a i l , re tu rn re c e i p t re q u e s te d . S ee2 5 U. S . C. A. § 1 9 1 2 (a ) (re q u i ri n g n o ti c e u n d e r th e IC W Ab e p ro v i d e d b yc e rti fi e d m a i l , re tu rn r ecei ptr equest ed) . Theydi d n o t c o nt ai n R . R . ’ s and V . R . ’ s ages, bi rt hdates , pl ac e o fbi rt h, M ot her ’ s cu r r en tand f or m erad dr es se s, M ot her ’ s m ar r i ed and m a i d e n n a m e , o r M o th e r’sb i rth d a te a n d p l a c e o f b i rth . S ee25 C. F. R. § 23. 11( d) ( 1) –( 3) (sett i ng f ort h r equ i r em ent s t o bei ncl ude d i n not i cean d i ncl udi ng t hes e i t em s) . Addi t i ona l l y, t he not i ce s w er e n otm ai l ed t o t he appr opr i at e ar ea di r ect or , “A nad a rko A rea Di r ect or , Bu r eau ofI ndi an A f f ai r s, P. O . Bo x 36 8, A nadar ko, O kl ahom a 73 00 5. ” Id. ( r equi r i ng m ai l i ng t o A r ea D i r ec t or ) . None oft he no t i ce s i ncl ude d t he t el eph onenum berf orM ot heror F a th e r. Id . § 2 3 .1 1 (e )(4 ) (req u i ri n g p h o n e n u m b e rsb e p ro v i d e d ).22

S ubst ant i al com pl i ance w i t h t hese not i ce pr ovi si ons w i l l notsuf f i ce . See, e .g ., I nreI. E.M. , 2 3 3 M i c h . A p p . 4 3 8 , 4 4 8

– 4 9 , 5 9 2 N .W .2 d 7 5 1 , 7 5 7 ( C t. A pp. 1999 ) ( hol di ng no t i cedi d notco m pl y w i t h t he I C W A w hen nots entby ce rt i f i ed m ai l , r et ur n r ec ei ptr equ es t ed, an d hol di ng t el eph oneca l l s di d not sa t i sf y no t i cer equ i r em ent ) . I ns t ea d, pr ope rnot i cei n c om pl i anc e w i t h t he IC W A an d the st atutory no t i ce prov i si on s i s a p r erequ i si t e to a state cou rt ’s de t erm i na t i on of w he t he r t o ap pl y t he IC W A . S ee, e. g. , I nreC. H. , 510 N . W . 2d 119 , 1 24 ( S. D . 1 993 ) ( hol di ng no t i cepr ovi ded t o Choct aw N at i on of O kl ahom a noti n com p l i a n c e w i t h t he I C W A because notm ai l ed by cert i f i ed m ai l , r et ur n r ec ei ptr equ es t ed asr equ i r ed by t he A ct ) . C om pl i anc e w i t h a l l of t h e IC W A n o t ic e p r o v is io n sisre q u ir e d t o p r o m o t e a n d t o m a in t a in s t a b ilit yin t he pl ac em entofch i l dr en; i t i s pr ef er abl e t o er r on t he si de ofgi vi ng no t i cean d e x a m i n i n g th o ro u g h l yw h e th e r th e c h i l d i sa n In d i a n . I. E. M. , 233 M i ch. A pp. at4 47, 5 92 N . W . 2d at757 ( quot i ng I n re M. C. P. , 153 Vt . 275, 289, 571 A. 2d 6 2 7 , 6 3 4

– 3 5 (1 9 8 9 )); s e ea l s o InreJ.W. , 4 9 8 N .W .2 d 4 1 7 , 4 1 9 ( I o w a C t. A p p . 1 9 9 3 ) (r e c o g n i zi n g tha t “i t w o u l d b e i rr e sp o n sibl e for this co u rtn o t t o as su r e t he [ not i ce ] pr ovi si on s of t he A ctw er e f ol l ow ed”ba se d on “a s er i ous r i sk su bs equ ent pr oce edi ngs m ay be br ought f or i nva l i dat i on oft he t er m i nat i on o rd e r u n d e r s e c ti o n 1 9 1 4 ” ), di sapprove d on other

groundsby I

n re N. N. E. , 752 N .W .2 d 1 (I o w a 2 0 0 8 ).23

Bas ed on t he i nco m pl et e i nf or m at i on pr ovi ded i n t he not i ce s her e, t he Ki ow a I nd i a n Nat i on a pp a r e nt l y w a sunabl e to ve r i f y w he t he rR. R. a nd V. R. w er e m em ber s oft he t r i be orel i gi bl e f orm em ber sh i p i n t he t r i be. I ns t ea d, t he t r i bes e ntb a c ka d oc um e nti nd i c a t i ng t ha tt hec hi l dr e n’ sg r a nd m ot herw as a r e g is t e r e d m e m b e ro ft h e t r ib e b y n o t in g , “ M a t e r n a l g r a n d m o t h e rM in n ie M a r ie A nque . . . K0 041 6 1⁄2 Ki ow a, ” and r equ es t i ng m or e i nf or m at i on t o de t er m i ne w het herR. R. an d V. R. w er e m em ber s orw er e e l i gi bl e f orm em ber sh i p. The A ssi st antD i st r i ctA t t or n e yc o n ceded t hatt he t r i be had r equest ed addi t i onal i nf or m at i on, s t at i ng, “ I be l i evei tst at est heyne ed m or e i nf or m at i on. “ Yet , t he r ec or d doe s not r ef l ec t t hat any add i t i ona l i nf or m at i on w as pr ovi de d to t he t r i be, t hat M ot her and Fat her w er e pr ovi ded a cop y oft he t r i be’ s r es pons e, or t hat t he t r i be w as pr ovi ded M ot her ’ s orFat her ’ s phone nu m bert o contactt hem di r ec t l y. A nd a l t hough t he Secr et ary oft he I nt er i ororhi s des i gne e w ass erved , no copy o fa not i ce sentby t he S ecr et ary ofthe I nt er i ort o t he K i ow a N at i on w as fi l e d w i th th e tri a l c o u rt. S ee2 5 C .F.R . § 2 3 .1 1 (f ) (r e q u i ri n g the S e c reta ry to se nd a co py o fan y no t i cepr ovi ded t o t he t r i be t o t he cou rt ) . Addi t i ona l l y, t he Secr et ary di d noti nf or m t he t r i alco urthe r e p r i ort o t he i ni t i at i on oft he pr oc e e di ng st ha th e o rh i s de s i gn e e w a su na bl e t o ve r i f y t ha tR. R. a nd V. R. m e e t th e c ri te ri a o f In d i a n c h i l d re n . See i d.24

A vi ol at i on of t he I C W A not i ce pr ovi si ons m ay be ca us e f ori nva l i dat i on o f th e te rm i n a ti o n p ro c e e d i n g sa t s o m e l a te r, d i s t a n tp o i n t i n ti m e . S ee 25 U . S. C . A . § 1914 ( pr ovi di ng t hat“ [ a] ny I ndi an chi l d w ho i s t he su bj ec tofan y a c ti o n fo r . . . te rm i n a ti o n o f p a re n ta l ri g h ts u n d e r S ta te l a w , a n yp a re n t . . . f r om w hose cust ody such chi l d w as r em oved, and t he I ndi an chi l d’ s t r i be m ay pe t i t i on any cou rt of com pet ent j ur i sd i ct i on t o i nva l i dat e su ch ac t i on upon a sh ow i ng t hats uch ac t i on v i ol at ed anypr ovi si on ofsec t i ons1 911 , 1912 , an d 1 9 1 3 o f th i sti tl e ” ); s e ea l s o W. D. H. , 4 3 S. W . 3d at38–3 9 ( r ec ogni z i ng pa r ent ofI ndi an chi l d ha s st and i ng t o c hal l eng e ade qua cy ofnot i ceev en t hough t r i be d e c l i n e d to j o i n s u i t). C o n s e q u e n tl y , b e c a u s e th e te rm i n a ti o n p ro c e e d i n g h e re w i l l l i kel y r esul tul t i m at el y i n t he adop t i on of youn g R . R . and V . R . , st r i ct com pl i anc e w i t h t he not i cepr ovi si onsoft he I C W A a nd t he r egu l at i ons i m pl em ent i ng i ti n t he C odeofFe der alRegul at i onsi s es pec i al l y i m port ant , or

“ t h e S t a t e c o u ld o f f e rp r o s p e c t iv e a d o p t iv e p a r e n t sn o a s s u r a n c e t h is t er m i nat i on and a subsequent adop t i on w oul d not be i nval i dat ed. ” S ee J. W. , 4 9 8 N .W .2 d at 4 1 9

– 2 2 (rec o g n i zi n g tha t no ti c e p rov i sion s o f t h e I C W A are to be st r i ct l y c ons t r ued an d r eve r si ng or dert er m i nat i ng par ent alr i ght s bec aus e o f i n a d e q u a te n o ti c e a n d re m a n d i n g fo r n e w h e a ri n g a fte r p ro p e r n o ti c e ). W het hert he t r i al courtcor r ect l y appl i ed t he I C W A i s a quest i on of l aw . S e eW. D. H. , 4 3 S .W .3 d a t3 3 ; s e ea l s o I. E. M. , 233 M i c h. App . a t443, 59225

N . W . 2d at755 (ho l di ng t hat“ [ w ] het hert he pr oba t e c ourtf ai l ed t o s at i sf y a n o ti c e o b l i g a ti o n i m p o s e d b yth e IC W A i n v o l v e sa le g a l q u e s ti o n o f s ta tu to ry i nt er pr et at i on t hatw e r evi ew de novo ”) . H er e, because under t he G ui del i nes t he t r i alco urtha d r ea so n t o know t hatR. R. an d V. R. w er e I ndi an chi l dr en, t he n o ti c e p ro v i s i o n so f th e IC W A w e r e tri g g e re d . S eeB I A G u i d e l i n e s fo r S tate C ourt s; I ndi an C hi l d Cust ody Pr oce edi ngs , 44 Fed. Reg. at67, 586 ( prov i di ng t h a t“ [w ]h e n a s t a t e c o u rth a sre a s o n t o b e lie v e a c h ild in v o lv e d in a c h ild c u s to d yp ro c e e d i n g isa n In d i a n , th e c o u rt s h a l l s e e kv e ri fi c a ti o n o f th e c h i l d ’s s ta tu s ” ); se e al

so 25 C . F. R . § 2 3. 11 ( a) –( f ) ( sett i ng f ort h r equi si t es ofnot i ces g i v e n u n d e rt h e I CW A) . B e c a u s e t h e p r e d i c a t e o fp r o p e rn o t i c e u n d e r t h e I CW A w as notsat i sf i ed her e, t he t r i al courtcoul d not r esol ve t he i ssue ofw het her R . R . and V . R . w er e I ndi an chi l dr en w i t hou tl eavi ng i t s t er m i nat i on decr ee open t o s ubs equ entchal l eng e and i nva l i dat i on by M ot her , Fa t her , t he t r i be, R. R. , or V .R . See, e. g. , 25 U . S. C . A . § 1 914 ( aut hor i z i ng “ anyI ndi an chi l d w ho i s t he su bj ec tofan y a ct i on f or. . . t er m i nat i on ofpa r ent alr i ght s unde rSt at e l aw , an y p a re n t . . . fro m w h o s e c u s to d ys u c h c h i l d w a sre m o v e d , a n d th e In d i a n c h i l d ’s t r i be [ t o] pe t i t i on a ny c ourtofco m pet entj ur i sd i ct i on t o i nva l i dat e s uch ac t i on upo n a sho w i ng t ha ts uc h a c t i on v i ol a t e d a nyp r ov i s i on o fs e c t i on s1911 , 1 9 1 2 , a n d 1 9 1 3 o f th i sti tl e ” ); Junious M ., 1 4 4C a l. A p p . 3 d a t7 9 1 , 1 9 3 C a l. Rpt r . at42 ( exp l ai ni ng t hatvi ol at i on oft he I C W A ’ s not i cepr ovi si onsm ay be26

c a u s e f o rin v a lid a t io n o ft h e p r o c e e d i n g s ). O n c e p r o p e rn o t ic e isg iv e n in com pl i anc e w i t h t he di ct at esoft he I C W A , how eve r , i ft he t r i be f ai l s t o r es pond ori nt erven esbutf ai l s t o de t er m i ne the ch i l d’ s m em ber sh i p orel i gi bi l i t y f or m em ber sh i p i n t he t r i be, t hen t he bur den s hi ft s t o t he part i est o s how t hatt he I C W A ap pl i e s . S ee I. E. M. , 233 M i c h. App . a t449, 592 N. W . 2d a t757 ( r ecogn i zi ng t hatnei t herF a th ernort r i be had r esponsi bi l i t y t o est abl i sh a p p l i c a b i l i tyo f th e IC W A a b s e n t p ro p e r n o ti c e a sd i c ta te d b yth e IC W A ); Inre Bab y B oyD oe , 1 2 3 I d a h o 4 6 4 , 4 7 0 , 8 4 9 P .2 d 9 2 5 , 9 3 1 ( e x p l a i n i n g tha t, i f, aft erpr ope rnot i ce , t he st at e c ourtdoe s notr ec ei ve a c onc l us i ve det er m i nat i on f r om t he t r i be ort he BI A r ega r di ng a ch i l d’ s el i gi bi l i t y f ort r i balm em ber sh i p, t he t r i alco urtm us tm ak e i t s ow n de t er m i nat i on, an d t he bur den ofpr oduc i ng t he nece ssa ry e vi den ceon t hi s i ss ue i s on t he part y a ss ert i ng t he app l i ca bi l i t y of th e IC W A ), c ert . denied, 5 1 0 U .S . 8 6 0 (1 9 9 3 ). Becau se, i n t he absen c e ofpr opernot i ce any det er m i nat i on of w het her t he chi l dr en w er e I nd i an ch i l dr en w aspr em at ur e, w e s us t ai n t he port i on of M ot her ’ s f i r sti ss ue cl ai m i ng t hatt he t r i alco urter r ed i n i t s det er m i nat i on of w het hert he I C W A app l i ed. W e l i ke w i ses us t ai n t he port i on ofFa t her ’ s se con d i ss ue com pl ai ni ng t hatt he t r i alco urter r ed by n otgr ant i ng a ne w t r i alon t he i ss ue ofw het her R. R. and V . R. w er e I ndi an chi l dr en. W e n ee d notad dr es s t he27

b a l a n c e o f M o th e r’sfi rs t i s s u e o r o f F a th e r’ss e c o n d i s s u e . S eeTex. R. A pp. P. 47. 1. F . P ROPERR E MEDY W hen an appel l at e courtf i nds a vi ol at i on of t he I C W A not i ce pr ovi si ons, rev e rsa l i s n o t n e c e ss a ri l y w a rr a n ted ; i n ste a d , a co u rtm a yrem a n d the ca se to th e tri a l c o u rt s o th a t p ro p e r n o ti c e m a yb e p ro v i d e d . S ee Te x . R. A pp. P. 44. 4. The app el l at e c ourtw i l l co ndi t i ona l l y a f f i r m t he t er m i nat i on or deri n t he eve ntt hat , on r em and , aft erpr ope rnot i cet he chi l dr en ar e deter m i ned t o not b e In d i a n c h i l d re n . See, e. g. , Junious M ., 1 4 4C a l. A p p . 3 d a t7 8 8 , 1 9 3 C a l. R pt r . at40 ( i ndi cat i ng t hatt he I C W A not i ce er r orr equi r ed a “qu a l i f i ed re v e rs a l ” ); I

n re R. E. K. F. , 69 8 N . W . 2d 14 7, 15 0 ( I ow a 20 05 ) ( and cases ci t ed th e re i n ); C. H. , 51 0 N . W . 2d at12 4 ( hol di ng t hat , w hen t her e i s uncert ai nt y as to w h e th e r t h e I C W A ap p l i e s a n d the re i s a n o ti c e d e fec t, p rop e r rem e d yi s to r em and f orpr opernot i ce and det er m i nat i o n o fw het herchi l dr en ar e I ndi an c h i l d re n ). W e w i l l foll o w the se co u rt s a n d u ti l i ze th a t p roc e d u re h e re. W e w i l l ab a te t hi s app eal an d r em and t hi s case t o t he t r i al co urt . P r opernot i ce t hatcom pl i es w i th th e s ta tu to ryn o ti c e re q u i s i te ss h a l l b e p ro v i d e d , a n d th e n th e tri a l c o u rt shal l condu cta hear i ng t o det er m i ne w het herR . R . an d V . R . are I ndi an chi l dr en u n d e r th e IC W A . S eeT e x . R . A p p . P . 4 4 .4 ( p r o v id in g t h a ta p p e lla t e c o u rts h a ll28

n o t rev e rse o r a ffi rm jud g m e n t i f tri a l co u rtca n co rr e c t erron e o u s fa i l u re to ac t, a n d a u th o ri z i n g a p p e l l a te c o u rt to d i re c t tri a l c o u rt to c o rre c t e rro n e o u sfa i l u re to a c t a n d to th e n p ro c e e d a si f e rro n e o u sfa i l u re to a c t h a d n o t o c c u rre d ). A ft erw e r ecei ve t he suppl em ent al r ecor ds gener at ed by t he hear i ng i n t he t r i al c o u rt — a ss e tf o rt h in o u ra b a t e m e n to r d e ris s u e d c o n c u r r e n t lyw it h t h is opi ni on— t hi s app ea l w i l l be r ei ns t at ed. I f , aft er pr ope r not i cean d a he ar i ng, t he t r i a l c o u rth a sd e t e r m i n e d t h a tR. R. a n d V. R. a r e n o tI n d i a n c h i l d r e n , t hen w e w i l l i s s u e a ju d g m e n t a ffir m i n g t h e t ri a l c o u rt’st e rm i n a ti o n j u d g m e n t. S ee Tex. R . A pp. P. 43 . 2( a) . I f , aft ernot i ce and hear i ng, t he t r i al courtdet er m i nes t hat R. R. an d V. R. are I ndi an chi l dr en, t hen t hi s cou rts hal l i ss ue a j udgm ent r ever si ng t he t r i al court ’ s t er m i nat i on j udg m ent , an d t he t r i alco urtshal l condu ct a n e w tri a l a p p l y i n g th e IC W A . S ee T e x . R . A p p . P . 4 3 .2 (d ). II I. F ACTUALS UFFICI ENCY TOS UPP ORTT RIALC OU RT’SF I NDINGST HAT T E RMI NATI ON OFF ATH ER ’SP ARENTALR IGHT SIS INR. R’ S A NDV. R. ’SB E ST I NTERESTS I n hi s f i r st i ss ue, Fat her ar gue s t hat t he evi den ce i s f ac t ual l y i ns uf f i ci ent to s u p portt he f i ndi ng t hatt er m i nat i on of hi s par ent al r i ghtsi s i n t he best i nt er es toft he chi l dr en.

A . F a c t sP e rt in e n tt oB e s tIn t e r e s tA n a ly s is 1 . F a t h e ra n d M o t h e r ’sV io le n tR e la t io n s h ip29

Fat heran d M ot herm etatt he Pr es byt er i an N i ghtShel t er and st art ed l i vi ng t oge t her ap prox i m at el y on e y ea rl at er . Theyha ve bee n i n a n of f

- and
- on r el at i onshi p f orappr oxi m at el y f oury e a rs. M ot hert est i f i ed t hatshe has been physi cal l y assaul t ed by Fatherf i ve or si x t i m es si nce t hey have been t ogether a n d t h a tt h e yb o t h h a v e a n g e rm a n a g e m e n tis s u e s . M o t h e rs a id t h a tF a t h e rh it he rf ort hef i r s tt i m e w he n s hew a sf ou ro rf i vem on t hs ’ p r e gn a ntw i t h R. R. 2. Pol i cean d CPS I nvol vem ent

a . J uly 2006 Jeanni e M axey, a C PS i nvest i gat or , t est i f i ed t hatshe r ecei ved a r ef er r al o n J ul y 1 4 , 2 0 0 6 , t w o d ay s aft er R.R.’ s bi rt h. Th e ref err al st ated t ha tt he re w as do m e sti c vi ol ence, a hi st or y ofdr ug use by t he par ent s, and f i nanci al i ns t abi l i t y. M axey w entt o t he f am i l y’ s r esi dence t o i nt ervi ew t he par ent s and not ed t hatt he r es i dence w as cl ea n a nd a ppr opr i at e. Atf i r st , M ot hers ai d t hats he and Fatherhad onl y ar gued , butl at erM ot heradm i t t ed t hatFat herhad hi ther b e f o r e R .R . w a s b o r n . M o t h e r a ls o a d m it t e d t h a ts h e h a d b e e n t o a d o m e s t ic v io le n c e s h e lt e r . M o t h e rt o ld M a x e yt h a ts h e h a d u s e d m e t h a m p h e t a m in e in5 ... M ot he r ’ sd r ug t e s t sw e r e n e ga t i ved ur i ng J ul y 2006. 30 th e p a s t b u t h a d b e e n c l e a n f o ra f e w y e a rs 5 and t hatFat herhad used cr ack and had been dr ug- f r ee f orone t o t w o year s. W hen M a x e y s p o k e w i t h F a t h e r , h e s a i d t h a t h e h a d a h i s t o ry o fus i ng cr ack and m ar ij uana bu t had been cl ean f or si x m onths. Fat her adm i t t ed t hat he had a cr i m i nalhi st ory t hati ncl ude d i nj ury t o a ch i l d. M axe y t es t i f i ed t hats he di d notr em oveR. R . a ttha tt i m e. M axe y, how eve r , r ul ed t he ca seas“ r ea so n t o be l i evef orne gl ec t f ul s upe rvi si on” because t he par ent s w er e l eavi ng R . R . w i t h Fa th e r ’ s m ot her , w ho had been di agn os ed w i t h s chi z ophr eni a a nd w asuns t abl e. M axe y al so ope ned a ca sef or f a m ily -b a s e d s o c ia l s e rv ic e sa n d re c o m m e n d e d p a r e n t in g c la s s e sa n d d o m e s t ic v i o l e n c e c o u n s e l i n g fo r M o th e r a n d F a th e r. b. Aug ust2006 In re s p o n s e t o a n a lle g a t io n t h a tM o t h e r w a s s p a n k in g R .R ., M a x e ya g a in vi si t ed M ot herand Fat her ’ s r esi dence on A ugu st17 , 20 06 . W hi l e M axey w as t her e , she w i t nessed an ar gum entas M ot her , Fat her , and Fat her ’ s m ot her di sp ut ed w het herM ot herorFa t her had st r uck t he f i r st bl ow dur i ng a pr evi ous d o m e sti c v i o l e n c e i n c i d e n t. M o th e r t o l d M a x e ytha t Fa th e r w o u l d b e g o i n g to j ai l f ora char ge ofi nj ur y t o a f am i l y m em berand t hatpr odu ce d c o n cer n over6 ... M axe y t es t i f i ed t hatw hi l e shehad t he ca se , Fat herdi d go t o j ai l an d

t hata ca sef orf am i l y- bas ed sa f et y s ervi ce s w asope ned .

7 ... M axey t est i f i ed t hatt her e w as no al l egat i on t hatFat herhad ever s pa nk e d R. R. 31 t he f am i l y’ s f i nanci al f ut ur e. 6 M ot heran d Fat herb ot h t ol d M axey t hatnei t her oft he m h a d s pa nk e d R. R. 7 c . Se pt e m be r2006 M axey r ecei ved a second r ef er r al t hat M ot her w as spanki ng R. R . and t hat M o t h e rw a ss t ill le a v in g h im w it h F a t h e r ’s m o t h e r . M a x e yt e s t if ie d t h a tt h is r ef er r al w as “Ru l ed O ut , ” m eani ng t hat t her e w as no evi dence t o suggestt hat M ot herw ass pan ki ng R. R. M ot her , m oreo ver , s ai d t hats he w oul d notl ea ve R . R . w i t h Fat her ’ s m ot her agai n because she under st ood t hatFat her ’ s m ot her w a sn ota n a pp r op r i a t e c a r e t a k e rf orR. R. d. Nov e m be r2006 O f f i ce rBi l l y Bye r s w i t h t he FortW ort h Pol i ceD epa rt m entt es t i f i ed t hathe w e n t to F a th e r a n d M o th e r’ s res i d e n c e o n N o v e m b e r 8 , 2 0 0 6 , i n res p o n se to a dom est i c di st ur bance cal l . W hen O f f i cerByersar r i ved, h e n ot ed t hatFat her w as i nt oxi cat ed. O f f i cerB yer s t est i f i ed t hatt he “bedr oom s w er en’ tl i veabl e” and t hatone oft he bedr oom s “had a bunch ofd ogs i n i t . ” H e f urt hert est i f i ed t hat32

t he bab y w ascryi ng t he ent i r e t i m e w e w er e t her e. Theyha d not onc e c hec ke d on t hatch i l d unt i l I as ke d t hem t o be ca us e t he bab y w a sc ry in g . A n d t h e b a b yw a sla y in g in t h a tlitt l e c u s h i o n c h a ir and t heyw er e j us tco ns t ant l y a r gui ng, ye l l i ng ba ckan d f ort h, c u rs i n g a t e a c h o th e r. A n d th i sw a sa l l th re e o f th e m . T h e yw e re al l scr eam i ng ateach o th e r , as w el l as t he pol i ce t hathad r espond ed out t her e. [M o th e r’ s] a c ti o n w i th tak i n g th e c h i l d o u tsi d e th e h o u se w i th t he col d c ondi t i on and gi vi ng t he bab y t o he robv i ous l y i nt oxi ca t [ ed] hus ban d a nd t hr ow i ng, i n f ac t- -or h i s w or ds , t hr ow i ng t he bab y athi m att he st or e. It ’s v e ryu n s a f e f o r t h a tc h ild t o b e in . I’ m n o t--I d o n ’tre c a ll w hatt he ba by’ s agew as , butw asonl y a co upl e o fm ont hsol d. O b v io u s ly , s h o u ld n ’th a v e b e e n o u tin t h a t e n v ir o n m e n ta n d s h o u ld b e l o o k e d a fte r. Bethany H ouser , w ho w or ks f orC PS , t est i f i ed t hatshe r ecei ved a r ef er r al on Novem ber8, 2006 . H ous er sa i d t hatt he pol i ceha d be en ca l l ed t o t he hom e t w i ceon N ov em ber7 f ordom es t i c v i ol enc e a nd w er e c onc er ned ab outt he c o n d it io n o ft h e h o m e , t h e s t a t e o fb o t h p a r e n t s , a n d R .R .’ ss a f e t ya n d w e llbei ng i n t he hom e. W hen H ouserar r i ved, Fat herappear ed t o be i nt oxi ca ted . M ot her a d m it t e d t h a ts h e h a d u s e d d r u g sa c o u p le o fw e e k sb e f o r e t h e n ig h tin quest i on. H ouseral so saw thatF at her ’ s m ot herl i ved w i t h t he f am i l y and knew t hatshe had si gni f i cantm ent al heal t h i ssues. H ous ernot ed t hatt here w asde br i s, t r as h, cl utt er , an d ol d bott l esof sp o i l e d form u l a thro u g h o u t t h e res i d e n c e ; th a t th e re w e re p l a tes an d p a n s w i th o l d fo o d o n th e m o n th e f l o o r; th a t th e re w a sd o g f e c e sp ri m a ri l yin t h e b a b y ’s33

r oom ; an d t hatt her e w er e m anyhol esi n t he w al l s, door s w er e o f fhi nge s, an d br oken f r am i ng exi st ed ar oun d doo r s. Even t hou gh R . R . di d not have any m ar ks on hi m and r eveal ed no si gns of n e g l e c tot hert han a sl i ght r ash, H ouser dec i ded t hati tw asi n t he bes ti nt er es tt o r em oveR. R. on t hatda t e b ec aus e s he k n e w th a t th e re h a d b e e n p ri o r C P S c a s e si n v o l v i n g F a th e r a n d M o th e r. A ft erR. R. w asr em ove d, CPS as ke d Fa t her t o t ak e a dr ug t es t . I n a d r ug te s t d a te d N o v e m b e r 1 5 , 2 0 0 6 , F a th e r te s te d p o s i ti v e fo r o p i a te s . e . J a nu a ry 2007 O f f i cerJesus A l ani z w i t h t he FortW ort h Po l i ce D epart m entt est i f i ed t hat a concer ned ci t i zen r eport ed on Januar y 6, 20 07 , t hata dom est i c di st ur bance w as occur r i ng i n f r ont ofa F i e sta gr ocer y st or e. M ot hersai d t hatshe had pus he d Fa t he r , a nd Fa t he r s a i d t ha t M ot he r ha d hi t hi m i n t he head. M ot her rec e i v e d a c i tati o n for the i n c i d e n t.8 ... The r ec or d i s un cl ea rr ega r di ng t hi s dat e. I ni t i al l y, t he att or neyf or

T D F P S q u e s t io n e d O f f ic e rB y e r sa b o u tN o v e m b e r1 2 , 2 0 0 7 , b u tre f e r r e d t o it as “t he day af t eryou w er e outt her e i n N o v e m ber . ” H ow ever , sever al que st i onsl at er , t he att or neyf orT D FPS que st i one d O f f i ce rB yer s w het hert he envi r onm ent obser ved i n “M ay of ‘ 07 ” w as di f f er ent f r om t he one h e h ad o b se rve d i n “N o v e m b e r of ‘0 6 .” T h e refo re, w e u se the M a y2 0 0 7 d a te b e c a u se i t ap p e a rs m o re a p p rop ri a te i n the co n tex t. 34 f . M a y 2007 8 O f f ic e rB y e r st e s t if ie d t h a th e r e s p o n d e d t o a n o t h e rd o m e s t ic v io le n c e c a ll att he r esi de ncei n M ay 200 7. O n t hatoc ca si on, M ot herha d gott en i nt o a phys i ca l f i ghtw i t h Father ’ s m ot her , w ho hi tM ot herw hi l e s he w aspr egn ant w i t h V . R . W hen po l i ce ar r i ved, Fat her ’ s m ot herm ade t hr eat s ofki l l i ng M ot her and t he pol i ce . O f f i ce rByer s t es t i f i ed t hatFa t her ’ s m ot hert ol d t hem t hats he w a ss c hi z op hr e ni c a nd w a so n s e ve r a l m e di c a t i on sf orp s yc hi a t r i c p r obl em s, w hi ch he knew f r om pr evi ous deal i ngs w i t h her . Fat her ’ s m ot heral so t ol d t hem t hatt her e w er e p eop l e i n t he att i c a nd pe opl e u nde rt he st ai r s t hatw er e c om i ng t o gether . H e f el tt hatshe had sever e “i ssue s w i th h e r coherency” and t hat i t w as “very unsaf e f oranybo dy t o be ar oun d. ” O f f i cerByersf urt hert est i f i ed t hathehad been t o t he r es i den cet hr eeorf ourt i m esw i t hi n t he pas tye aran d t hati tw asan uns t abl e e nvi r onm entf ora chi l d.35 g. J un e2007 O f f i cerM i chael So nes w i t h t he FortW ort h Po l i ce D e part m entt est i f i ed t hathes pok e w i t h M ot heri n Ju ne 200 7 and t hats he sa i d sh e ha d be en i n a dom est i c assaul tw hi l e she w as pr egnan t w i t h V . R . M ot hert est i f i ed t hatFat her h a d b e e n d ri n k i n g a n d th a t h e h a d d ra g g e d h e r o u t o f th e h o u s e , p u s h e d h e r, and hi therf ourt i m es. O f f i c e rSo n e sp l a c e d F a t h e ri n t h e p a t r o l c a r , a n d F a t h e rk i c k e d o u tt he bac k w i ndow oft he pat r ol car . Fat herw asch ar ged w i t h c r i m i nalm i sc hi efan d a s s a u l t b o d i l yin j u ryt o a f a m i l ym e m b e r. O ffice r S o n e ste s ti fi e d th a t F a th e r’s l ac k o fs el f

- con t r ol i s dan ger ous f or a chi l d and t hat t he part i esha d a hi st ory of dom est i c vi ol ence. h. Oct ob e r2007 D u e t o s a f e t yis s u e sr e g a r d in g c h ild r e n b e in g in a h o m e w h e r e d o m e s t ic vi ol enc e h ad occ ur r ed an d w asongo i ng, CPS r em ove d V. R. atbi rt h. CPS p l a c e d V .R . w i th th e s a m e fo s te r fa m i l yth a t w a sk e e p i n g h e r b ro th e r R .R . i . Dec e m be r2007 O f f i cerD ean M eza r espond ed t o a cal l at t he Pr esbyt er i an N i ght S hel t er on D ecem ber25 , 20 07 . Fat herhad r eport ed t hatM ot her , w hom he descr i bed as hi s f i ancée, had assaul t ed hi m . M ot herw entt o j ai l f ort he assaul t . O f f i cer36

M eza t est i f i ed t hat , accor di ng t o Fat her , bot h Fat heran d M ot herw er e l i vi ng at th e s h e l te r. 3 . F a th e r’ s C o n v i c ti o n s a n d B a d A c ts Fat herad m i t t ed t hatheha d be en con vi ct ed ofan d s er ve d t i m e i n t he pen i t ent i ary f ort he of f ens e of bodi l y i nj ury t o a chi l d t hat occ ur r ed on orab out A p ri l 2 0 , 1 9 9 7 . F a th e r a l s o a d m i tte d th a t h e h a d b e e n c o n v i c te d o fro b b e ry c a u s i n g b o d i l y i n j u ry a n d t h a t p r i o r t o R. R. ’ s b i rt h , h e h a d b e e n c o n v i ct ed of D W I. F a t h e rt e s t if ie d t h a th e w a sc o n v ic t e d o fa s s a u ltb o d ilyin ju ryt o a f a m ily m em be r ( M ot he r ) t ha t oc c ur r e d on or a bo ut Fe br ua ry 8, 2006, w hi l e M ot her w as pr egnan tw i t h R . R . Fathe r e xpl ai ned t hathe had hi tM ot heri n t he f ace b e c a u s e h e w a sm a d a n d i n to x i c a te d . Fat her di sc us se d t he f ac t s unde r l yi ng hi s June 200 7 cr i m i nalm i sc hi efan d assaul tbodi l y i nj ur y t o a f am i l y m em ber ( M ot her ) convi ct i ons. Fat heradm i t t ed t ha th e h a d be e n dr i nk i ng t ha tn i gh ta nd t ha tM ot he rw a sp r e gn a ntw i t h V. R. and add ed t hatM ot herhad assaul t ed hi m sever al t i m es. F a t h e rt e s t if ie d t h a t o n C h r is t m a s D a y 2 0 0 7 , h e w a sliv in g w it h h isu n c le a n d t h a th e w e n tt o v is itM o t h e r a t t h e P r e s b y t e r ia n N ig h tS h e lt e r . F a t h e rs a id t hatM ot herh ad assaul t ed hi m . Fat heradm i t t ed t hathe had pu shed herback and s t at ed t hatshe had hi thi m once i n t he hea d and sev er alt i m eson t he si de37

oft he head. Fat hercal l ed t he pol i ce att hatpoi ntand ag a i n tw o h o u rs l at er w hen M ot herpus hed hi m ag ai n.

4 . T h eS e rvi c eP l a n an d F a th e r’ s C o m p l i a n c eT h e rew ith

a. From CPS ’ s St and poi nt A pr i l Cum ber bat ch, w ho w or ksw i t h CPS , t es t i f i ed t hats he exp l ai ned t he servi ce pl ans t o both M ot herand Fat her . C um ber bat ch sai d t hatt hei rservi ce p l a n si n c l u d e d a p s y c h o l o g i c a l e v a l u a ti o n , d o m e s ti c v i o l e n c e c o u n s e li n g , a m e n tal h e a l th as se ss m e n t, an d an g e r m a n a g e m e n t. A l t hou gh Father si g n e d h i s s e rvi c ep l a n , C u m b e rba tch tes ti fi e d tha t Fa th er h a d n o t c o m p l e te d a n yo f th e s e rv i c e so n h i sp l a n a so f J u l y2 0 0 7 . W i th re g a rd t o Fa t her ’ s vi si t at i ons , Cum ber bat ch t e s t i f i e d t h a tF at herw asap pr opr i at e d ur i ng th e v i s i ts a n d s e e m e d to h a v e a g o o d ra p p o rt w i th R .R .; h o w e v e r, F a th e r’s vi si t s w er e i ncon si st entb ecause h e w as i n j ai l f orphysi cal l y assaul t i ng M ot her w h i l e sh e w a s p reg n a n t. El i zabet h B ow l en, t he ong oi ng C PS casew or ker w ho t ook ov ert he case aft erCum ber bat ch t ooka di f f er entj ob, t es t i f i ed t hats he had gi ven Fa t herbus pas se s t o us e t o at t end hi s cl as se s and vi si t s butt hatheha d gi ven t hem t o a f r ie n d a n d w a s t h e r e f o r e n o t u s in g t h e m p r o p e r ly . B o w le n s a id t h a tF a t h e rd id notm ak e an a ppoi nt m entf orhi s ps ych ol ogi ca l ex am i nat i on un t i l N ove m beror9 ... Th e r e c or d r e ve a l e d t ha t Fa t he r c om pl e t e d c ou ns e l i ng i n Ja nu a ry 2008

and t hatt he t er m i nat i on t r i alt ookpl ac e d ur i ng F ebr uary. 38 D e c e m b e r2 0 0 7 , a tw h ic h t im e t h e o f f ic e d id n o th a v e a n o p e n in g u n t il January; t he of f i ce t hen st opp ed per f or m i ng psych ol ogi cal eval uat i ons. Bow l en sa i d t hatFa t hercom pl et ed so m e s ervi ce s on hi s pl an: pa r ent i ng c l a s s e s , a ng e rm a na ge m entcl a s s e s , a s ub s t a nc e a bu s e a s s e s s m e nt , CA TS c l ass es, and i nd i vi du al co un sel i ng . B ow l en t esti f i ed t ha t , de sp i t e F athe r ’s com pl et i on of t hese cl asses , she has notseen Fat herdem onst r at e w hathe has l ear ned, t hou gh she adm i t t ed t hatt her e had been n o dom est i c vi ol ence i nci den t s i n t he onem ont h si nceFa t herha d c om pl et ed t he ang erm ana gem ent cl asses . 9Bow l en al so t es t i f i ed t hatM ot heran d Fa t her ’ s cou ns el ors ai d t hathe di d n o tf e e l t h a tt h e yw o u l d b e c a p a b l e o fp a r e n t i n g c h i l d r e n a tt h i st i m e a nd t hat he di d not have posi t i ve t hi ngs t o say abou t M ot her and Father ’ s pr ogr ess. Bow l en t es t i f i ed t hatev en i fFa t herdi d notm ar ry M ot her , heco ul d not pr ovi de ei t herofhi s chi l dr en w i t h a s af e a nd s t abl e h om e a s oft he t i m e o ft he t er m i nat i on t r i al . Bow l en expl ai ned t hatt he case had been on goi ng f orf i ft een m ont hsan d t hatFa t herha d notbe en abl e t o es t abl i sh a s af e e nvi r onm entf or t he chi l dr en t o l i ve i n; t he one ho use t hathe had pai d ren t o n w as deem ed u n s a f e f o rt h e c h ild r e n t o liv e in , a n d t h e r e w a ss o m e t e s t im o n yt h a tt h e f a m ily h a d l i v e d i n a t e n t o n F a th e r’su n c l e ’sp ro p e rtya t o n e p o i n t. B o w l e n , m o re o v e r,10 ... F a th e r w o rk e d a sa p l u m b e r. 39 exp r es se d t hats he w asuns ur e h ow s t ea dy F at her ’ s j obsw er e b ec aus e h e a nd M ot herdi d not have eno ugh m oney to pay f orbus t i cket s. 10 b. From Fa t her ’ s St and poi nt Fat her ad m i t t ed t hathi s cur r ents ervi cepl an w ass i m i l art o onet hathe w asgi ven i n t he su m m er or f al l of2006 an d t hati ni t i al l y hedi d notw or k a ny oft he servi ces. O nce Fat herbegan w or ki ng hi s servi ce pl an, h e g a v e a ur i nal ysi s a nd com pl et ed par ent i ng cl asses , t w el ve w eeks ofi ndi vi dual co u n sel i ng, t w el ve w eeks ofcoupl es counsel i ng, angerm anagem entcl asses , a n d the C A T S p rog ram , w h i c h i s a d rug an d alco h o l as se ss m e n t. Fat her adm i t t ed t hathe has an angerpr obl em and t est i f i ed t hatM ot her “has a l o t o f a n geri ssues. ” Fat heradm i t t ed t hathe w as t aki ng ang er m a n a g e m e n t c la s s e s w h e n h e k i c k e d o u t th e b a c kw i n d o w o f th e p a tro l c a r. Fat hers ai d t hatt hr ough hi s cl as se s, heha s l ea r ned ab outs el f

- con t r ol an d a bout not“ ove r agg r es si ng”w hen s om eon e off en dshi m , an d hei s a b ett erpe r so n t oday. Fathersai d t hathe know s t hati ti s w r ong t o hi tM ot herand t hat as sa ul t s do no tcr ea t e a s af e e nvi r onm entf orch i l dr en. Fat herad m i t t ed t hatheha d notcom pl et ed hi s ps ych ol ogi ca l ev al uat i on. H e sai d t hat he had t r i ed t o get a psychol ogi cal eval uat i on but t hat he had l ost11 ... F a th e r’s te s tim o n yre g a rd in g h ise m p lo y m e n t w a sc o n tr a d ic to ry . In

a d d it io n t o t h e s t a t e m e n ta b o v e , h e t e s t if ie d t h a th e h a d b e e n c o n t in u o u s ly e m p l o y e d for th e la s t y e a r an d tha t so m e ti m e s h e co u l d n o t m a k e h i s v i sit s bec aus e o fw or k; how eve r , heal so s ai d t hathei s w or ki ng w i t h a f r i end bec aus e h e h asa har d t i m e g ett i ng a j ob du e t o hi s cr i m i nalba ck gr ound. 40 hi s j ob 11 an d di d notha ve t he m one y t o ge to ne bef or e Oct obe r2007 ; t hen , w hen he t r i ed t o getone, t he fa ci l i t y had st opp ed doi ng psych ol ogi cal e v a lu a t io n s . H e a ls o a d m it t e d t h a tp a rto ft h e r e a s o n h e h a d n o tc o m p le t e d h is p s y c h o l o g i c a l e v a l u a ti o n w a sb e c a u s e h e h a d “ b e e n i n a n d o u t o f j a i l .” Fat her t es t i f i ed t hat hi s m ot her i s an app r opr i at e ca r egi ver f or hi s chi l dr en: “Sh e’ s f i ne. She thi nks t hatshe’ s m ent al l y m essed up , b utshe’ s no t . ” Fat her l a ter tes ti fi e d , “[M ]y m o m ’s cra zy .” Fa th e r ad m i tted tha t h i s m o th e r f i g h ts w i th M o t h e ra n d a g r e e d t h a titw o u ld b e d a n g e r o u sifh e , h ism o t h e r , a n d M o t h e ra ll l i v e d to g e th e r. W i t h r egar d t o t he cond i t i on of t he hou se i n 20 06 , Fat her t est i f i e d that t hey had a new dog and had l ef t hi m i n t he hou se al l day and al l ni ght. Fat her s a id t h a tt h e p o l i c e o ffice r h a d l i e d a b o u t th e h o l e si n th e w a l l a n d th e d o o rs b e i n g o ff th e h i n g e sb e c a u s e th e re w e re o n l ytw o h o l e si n a d o o r. Fat hert es t i f i ed t hatheha d l i ved i n t hr ee pl ac es dur i ng t he yea rbe f or e t he t r i al and t hathe di d not have a st abl e envi r onm entatt he t i m e oft r i al ; he l ost hi s house because hi s l andl or d had s ol d i t . A t t he t i m e of t he t r i al , Fat herw as41

l i vi ng w i t h hi s unc l e, w hom hede sc r i bed asa “d r ug he ad, ” butFa t herdi d not h a v e a s t e a d y p la c e t o h o u s e t h e c h ild r e n b e c a u s e h e h a d n o ta s k e d h isu n c le ift h e yc o u ld liv e w it h h im . 5 . P l a n sfo r th eF u tu re a. Fa t her ’ s Pl ans Fat her ’ s t est i m ony r egar di ng hi s p l ans f ort he chi l dr en w as som ew hat c o n f u s in g . F a t h e rt e s t if ie d t h a th e a n d M o t h e ra r e g o in g t o “ le tt h e ir r e l a t i on s hi p go ” be c a us e t he y w a nt t o ge t t he i r c hi l dr e n ba c k , bu the l at er d e sc ri b e d M o th e r a s his “s o o n -t o -be w i fe.” F a th e r sa i d th a t h e d i d n o t w a n t t o r el i n q u i s h h i sp a r e n t a l r i g h t s ; h e s a i d t h a tt h e yw o u l d h a v e t o b e t e r m i n a t e d. F a th e r t h e rea fter t e sti fi e d tha t i t w o u l d b e i n th e b e st i n tere st o f t h e ch i l d ren to not be r et ur ned t o hi m , t hou gh he l at ercont r adi ct ed hi m sel fby t est i f yi ng t hat i tw oul d bei n t he chi l dr en’ s bes ti nt er es tto be pl ac ed w i t h hi m be ca us e h e wo u l d t a k e c a r e o ft h e m. Fat hert est i f i ed t hatM ot heri s a goo d m om to hi s chi l dr en and t hatt hey both car e f ort he chi l d ren. Fat hert est i f i ed t hatt he chi l dr en coul d be pl aced w i t h M ot herand t hat he w ant s M ot her t o have a chance t o r ai se t he chi l dr en because he know s t hatshe l oves t hem and t hat t hey l ove her . Fat hert est i f i ed th a t h e h a d s a v e d $ 8 0 0 a n d w o u l d fi n a n c i a l l ys u p p o rt th e c h i l d re n a n d M o th e r, w ho w asl i vi ng a tt he sh el t er . Fa t hers ai d t hatM ot herco ul d ha ve pos se ss i on42

o ft h e c h il d re n b e c a u s e h e w a n ts to s e e th e c h i l d re n ra i s e d w i th o n e o f th e ir par ent s. Fa t herpr opos ed t hatt he chi l dr en w oul d be ke pts af e b y M ot hergoi ng t o c hur ch and nott ak i ng t hem t o pl ac est hatch i l dr en sh oul d notgo. W hen as ke d w het hert her e w er e a ny r el at i vesw ho co ul d t ak e t he chi l dr en, Fat her t est i f i ed t hat hi s chi l dr en w oul d be bet t er of f i n f ost er car e t han w i t h one of hi s r el at i ves because hi s f am i l y does not car e. b. C PS ’ s Recom m endati on and Pl an C u m b e rba tch tes ti fi e d th a t i t w a s i n R .R .’ s be st i n tere st to te rm in a te M ot her ’ s and Fat her ’ s parent al ri ghts . C um ber bat ch t est i f i ed t hatC PS ’ s pl an w as f orR. R . t o be adop t ed by hi s f ost erpar ent s. B o w l e n also tes ti fi e d tha t i t w a s i n the ch i l d ren ’s b e s t i n tere st to t er m i nat e M ot her ’ s and Fa t her ’ s pa r ent alr i ght s and t hatt he pl an w asf ort he chi l dr en t o be adop t ed by t hei rcu r r entfost erfam i l y because t he chi l dr en need a s a f e , s t a b le h o m e , a sw e ll a s p e r m a n e n c ya n d s t a b ilit y . B o w le n s a id t h a t , in heropi ni on, Fa t her cur r ent l y ca nnot pr ovi de a sa f e env i r onm entf ort he chi l dr en. 6. Tr i alCourt ’ s D i sp os it i on A ft er hea r i ng t he abo ve evi den ce , t he t r i al cou rt f ound by cl ea rand c o n v in c in g e v id e n c e t h a tM o t h e ra n d F a t h e rk n o w in g lyp la c e d o rk n o w in g ly al l ow ed R . R . and V . R . to r em ai n i n cond i t i ons orsur r oun di ngs w hi ch endan ger t hei rphysi cal orem ot i onal w el l
- bei ng, engag ed i n cond uct orknow i ngl y pl aced43

t he chi l dr en w i t h per so ns w ho eng age d i n con duc t w hi ch end ang er ed t he phys i ca l orem ot i ona l w el l
- bei ng oft he chi l dr en, an d t hatt er m i nat i on oft he p a re n t-c h i l d re l a ti o n s h i p w a si n th e c h i l d re n ’sb e s t i n te re s t. T h e tri a l c o u rt t her ef or e t er m i nat ed t he par ent - chi l d r el at i ons hi p bet w ee n M ot her and R. R. an d V. R. a nd b e t w e e n Fa t he ra nd R. R. a nd V. R.

B. Bur den of Pr oof and S t andar d ofRev i ew A pa r ent ’ s r i ght s t o “ t he com pan i ons hi p, ca r e, cu st ody, an d m a n a g e m e n t” o f h i so r h e r c h i l d re n a re c o n s ti tu ti o n a l i n te re s ts “ fa r m o re pr eci ous t han anypr op e rt yri ght. ” Santosky v. K ram er, 455 U. S. 745, 7 5 8

– 5 9 , 1 0 2 S . C t. 1 3 8 8 , 1 3 9 7 (1 9 8 2 ); I n reM. S. , 115 S. W . 3d 534, 547 (T e x . 2 0 0 3 ). “W h i l e p a re n t a l r i g h ts a re o f c o n s ti tu ti o n a l m a g n i tu d e , th e ya re notab so l ut e, an d j us tasi ti s i m per at i ve f orco urt s t o r ec og ni ze t he const i t ut i onal under pi nni ngs ofthe parent
- chi l d r el at i onshi p, i ti s al so essent i al th a t em o ti o n a l an d p h y sica l i n ter e s ts o f th e ch i l d n o t be sa c ri fi c e d m e rel yto pr eserve t hatr i ght. ” I nreC. H. , 89 S. W . 3d 17, 26 ( Tex. 2002 ) . I n a t er m i nat i on case, TD FPS seeks not j ustto l i m i tp ar ent al ri ghtsb utt o er ase t hem per m anentl y— t o di vestt he par entand chi l d ofal l l egal r i ghts , pr i vi l eges, dut i es, a n d p o w e rs n o rm a l l yex i sti n g b e tw e e n the m , e x c e p t f o r t h e ch i l d ’s r ig h t t o i n h e ri t. T e x . F a m . C o d e A n n . § 1 6 1 .2 0 6 (b ) (V e rn o n S u p p . 2 0 0 8 ); Hol i ckv. Sm ith , 685 S . W . 2d 18, 20 ( Tex. 1985 ) . W e s t r i ct l y s cr ut i ni z e t er m i nat i on44

pr oce edi ngsan d s t r i ct l y c ons t r ue i nvol unt ary t er m i nat i on st atut esi n f avo rof th e p a re n t. Hol

i ck , 685 S. W . 2d a t20–2 1; I n reM. C. T. , 250 S. W . 3d 161, 167 (T e x . A p p .— F o rt W o rth 2 0 0 8 , n o p e t.). I n pr oceedi ngs t o t er m i nat e t he pa rent - chi l d r el at i onshi p br oug htunder se ct i on 16 1. 001 oft he f am i l y code , t he pet i t i one rm us tes t abl i sh onegr ound l i st ed unde r su bdi vi si on ( 1) of t he st at ut e and m us tal so pr ovet hatt er m i nat i on i s i n t he bes t i nt er es t of t he chi l d. Tex. Fam . C ode A nn. § 161 . 00 1 ( V er non S u p p . 2 0 0 8 ); I

n re J. L. , 16 3 S . W . 3d 79 , 84 ( Tex . 20 05 ) . Both el em ent s m ust be es t abl i sh ed; t er m i nat i on m ay notbeba se d sol el y on t he bes ti nt er es toft he c h i l d a sd e te rm i n e d b yt h e tri e r o f fa c t. Tex. D ep’tof Hum an Servs . v. Boyd, 7 2 7 S .W .2 d 5 3 1 , 5 3 3 (T e x . 1 9 8 7 ). Ter m i nat i on de ci si onsm us tbesupport ed by c l ea ran d c onvi nci ng evi dence . Te x. F a m . Cod e Ann . §§ 1 61. 001, 161. 206( a ) . E vi de nc e i sc l ear and co nvi nci ng i fi t “w i l l pr oduc e i n t he m i nd oft he t r i eroff ac ta f i r m be l i efor convi ct i on as t o t he t r ut h oft he al l egat i ons sough tt o be es tab l i shed. ” Id. § 1 0 1 .0 0 7 (V e rn o n 2 0 0 2 ). D u e p ro c e s sd e m a n d sth i sh e i g h te n e d s ta n d a rd bec aus e t er m i nat i on r es ul t s i n pe r m ane nt , i r r evo ca bl e c han gesf ort he par ent a n d c h i l d . I

nreJ. F. C. , 9 6 S .W .3 d 2 5 6 , 2 6 3 (T e x . 2 0 0 2 ); see I n re J. A . J. , 243 S. W . 3 d 611 , 616 ( Tex. 2007 ) ( con t r as t i ng s t and ar dsf ort er m i nat i on a nd m o d i fi c a ti o n ).45

I n r evi ew i ng t he evi den cef orf ac t uals uf f i ci enc y, w e m us tgi ve due def er enc e t o t he f ac t f i nde r ’ s f i ndi ngsan d notsuppl antt he j udgm entw i t h our o w n . I nreH. R. M. , 209 S. W . 3d 105 , 108 ( Tex. 200 6) . W e m us tdet er m i ne w h e th e r , o n th e e n ti re re c o rd , a fa c tfin d e r c o u l d re a s o n a b l yfo rm a fi rm c o n v ic t io n o rb e lie ft h a tt h e t e r m in a t io n o ft h e p a r e n t -c h ild re la t io n s h ip w o u ld b e i n th e b e s t i n te re s t o f th e c h i l d . C. H. , 89 S. W . 3d at 28. I f , i n l i ghtoft he ent i r e r ec or d, t he di sp ut ed evi den cet hata r ea so nab l e f ac t f i nde rco ul d notha ve cr edi t ed i n f avo rofthe f i ndi ng i s so s i gni f i ca ntt hata f ac t f i nde rco ul d not r ea so na bl y have f or m ed a f i r m be l i eforco nvi ct i on i n t he t r ut h ofi t s f i ndi ng, th e n th e e v i d e n c e i sfa c tu a l l yi n s u fficie n t. H. R. M. , 209 S. W . 3d a t108. Ther e i s a s t r ong p r es um pt i on t hatkeep i ng a ch i l d w i t h a pa r enti s i n t he c h i l d ’s b e s t in tere st. I n reR. R. , 209 S . W . 3d 112, 116 ( Tex. 2006 ) . Pr om pt and per m anent pl acem ento fthe chi l d i n a saf e en vi r onm enti s al so pr esum ed t o bei n t he chi l d’ s bes ti nt er es t . Tex . Fam . C odeA nn. § 263. 307 ( a) ( V er non 2 0 0 8 ). T h e f o l l o w i n g f a c to rss h o u l d b e c o n s i d e re d in e v a l u a ti n g th e p a re n t’s w i l l i n g n e ss an d ab i l i ty to p rov i d e the ch i l d w i th a s a fe e n v i ron m e n t:

( 1) t he chi l d’ s age and physi cal and m ent al vul ner abi l i t i es; ( 2) t he f r equen cy and natur e ofout - of

- hom e pl acem ent s; (3 ) th e m a g n i tu d e , fre q u e n c y , a n d c i rc u m s ta n c e so f th e h a rm t o t he chi l d;46 (4 ) w h e th e r th e c h i l d h a sb e e n t h e v ic ti m o f re p e a te d h a rm aft ert he i ni t i alr epo rt and i nt erven t i on byt he dep art m entor ot herag enc y; ( 5) w het hert he chi l d i s f ea r f ul ofl i vi ng i n orr et ur ni ng t o t he chi l d’ s hom e; ( 6) t he r esul t s of psychi at r i c, psychol ogi cal , ordevel opm ent al e v a lu a t i o n so ft h e c h ild , t h e c h ild ’s p a r e n t s , o t h e rf a m ily m em ber s, orot her s w ho hav e access t o t he chi l d’ s hom e; ( 7) w h e t h e rt h e r e i sa h i s t o ryo fa b u s i v e o ra s s a u l t i ve c o n duct by t he chi l d’ s f am i l y orot her s w ho hav e access to t he chi l d’ s hom e; ( 8) w het hert her e i s a hi stor y ofs ubs t anc e a bus e b y t he chi l d’ s f am i l y or ot her s w ho have access t o t he chi l d’ s hom e; (9 ) w h e t h e rt h e p e r p e t r a t o ro ft h e h a r m t o t h e c h ild is i den t i f i ed; ( 10 ) t he w i l l i ngn ess and abi l i t y oft he chi l d’ s f am i l y t o seek o u t, a c c e p t, an d co m p l e te c o u n se l i n g se rvi c e s a n d to coop er at e w i t h and f aci l i t at e an appr opr i at e agency’ s cl ose su pervi si on; ( 11 ) t he w i l l i ngn ess and abi l i t y of t he chi l d’ s f am i l y t o ef f ect pos i t i ve env i r onm ent alan d pe r so nalch ang esw i t hi n a r easonabl e per i od of t i m e; (1 2 ) w h e th e r th e c h i l d ’s fam i l y d e m o n strate s a d e q u a te par ent i ng ski l l s, i ncl udi ng pr ovi di ng t h e c h i l d and other chi l dr en unde rt he f am i l y’ s ca r e w i t h: ( A ) m i ni m al l y adequ at e heal t h and nu t r i t i onal car e; ( B) ca r e, nurt ur anc e, an d a ppr opr i at e d i sc i pl i ne consi st entw i t h t he chi l d’ s physi cal and psych ol ogi cal d e v e l o p m e n t;47 ( C ) gui dan ce a nd s upe rvi si on c ons i st entw i t h t he chi l d’ s sa f et y; (D ) a sa fe p h y sica l h o m e en v i ron m e n t; ( E) pr ot ect i on f r om r epeat ed exposure t o vi ol ence even t hough t he vi ol enc e m ay no tbedi r ec t ed att he chi l d; and ( F) an under standi ng oft he chi l d’ s nee dsan d ca pab i l i t i es ; an d ( 13) w het heran ad equ at e s oci al s upports ys t em co ns i st i ng ofan ext end ed f am i l y a nd f r i end s i s ava i l abl e t o t he chi l d. Id. § 2 6 3 .3 0 7 (b ); R. R. , 209 S. W . 3d a t116. O t her , n o nexcl usi ve f act or s t hatt he t r i eroff acti n a t er m i nat i on case m ay us e i n det er m i ni ng t he bes ti nt er es toft he chi l d i ncl ude( A ) t he des i r esof t he chi l d, (B) the em ot i ona l an d phy si ca l ne edsoft he chi l d now an d i n t he f ut ur e, ( C ) t he em ot i onal and phy si cal dangert o t he chi l d now and i n t he f ut ur e; ( D ) t he par ent al abi l i t i es oft he i ndi vi dual s seeki ng cust ody, ( E) t he pr ogr am s ava i l abl e t o a ss i stt hes e i ndi vi dua l s t o pr om ot e t he bes ti nt er es toft he chi l d, ( F) t he pl ansf or t he chi l d by t hes e i ndi vi dua l s or by t he age ncys ee ki ng c us t ody, ( G ) t he st abi l i t y of t he hom e or pr opos ed pl ac em ent , ( H ) he ac t s orom i ss i ons o ft h e p a r e n tw h ic h m a yi n d i c a t e t h a tt h e e x is t in g p a r e n t -c h ild re la t io n s h ip is n o t a p rop e r on e , a n d ( I ) a n yex c u se fort h e a c ts o r om i ss i o n s o f t h e p a ren t. Ho l le yv. A da ms , 5 4 4S .W .2 d 3 6 7 , 3 7 1

– 7 2 (T e x . 1 9 7 6 ).48

T h e s e f a c t o r sa r e n o te x h a u s t iv e ; s o m e lis t e d f a c t o r s m a yb e in a p p lic a b le t o som e cases; ot herf act or s noton t he l i stm ay al so be c o n side red w hen a p p ro p ri a te . C.H . , 8 9 S . W . 3d at 2 7. Furt her m or e, undi sput ed evi dence of j ust one f act orm ay be suf f i ci enti n a part i cul arcase t o suppo rta f i ndi n g t hat te rm i n a ti o n i si n th e b e s t i n te re s t o f th e c h i l d . Id. O n t he ot herha nd, t he pr es enc e o fs ca ntev i den cerel eva ntt o e ac h f ac t orw i l l nots upports uch a fi n d i n g . Id. C . Ter m i nat i on W as i n t he C hi l dr en’ s BestI nt er est B e c a u s e F a th e r cl a i m s th a t f a c tu a l l yi n su ffi c i e n t ev i d e n c e ex i sts to est abl i sh t hatt e rm i n a ti on of hi s par ent al r i ghtsar e i n t he chi l dr en’ s best i nt er es t , w e b egi n ouran al ys i s w i t h t he f ac t or s l i st ed i n f am i l y c odes ec t i on 2 6 3 .3 0 7 (b ). W i t h r egar d t o t he f i r stfact or , the chi l dr en i nvol ved w er e v ery youn g at t h e t i m e o ft h e t e r m in a t io n t r ia l a n d w e r e t h e r e f o r e p h y s ic a llya n d m e n t a lly vul ner abl e. U nde rt he se con d f ac t or , t he r ec or d r eve al ed t hatCPS pl ac ed R. R. i n a f os t erhom e a nd w er e a bl e t o pl ac e V . R. i n t he sa m e f os t erhom e w hen s he w as bor n; t her e i s no evi dence i n t he r ecor d t hatt he chi l dr en w er e everm oved t o a not herf os t erhom e o rr et ur ned t o t hei rpa r ent s aft ert heyw er e r em ove d.49

W i t h r egar d t o t he t hi r d, f ou rt h , a nd ni nt h f act or s, Bo w l en st at ed t hat pr i orto C P S ’s i nt ervent i on, R. R . w as exposed t o m any do m est i c vi ol ence i n c i d e n ts i n v o l v i n g F a th e r, M o th e r, a n d F a th e r’sm o th e r. D ue t o t he chi l dr en’ s young ages, t he r ecor d di d not det ai l w het hert hey w oul d bef ea r f ul ofr et ur ni ng t o t hei rpa r ent s, b utBow l en t es t i f i ed t hatt he f os t erm ot heri s t he onl y m ot herf i gur e V. R. ha s bonde d w i t h. W i t h r e ga r d t o t hes i xt h f a c t or , t her e c or d di d no ti nc l ud e p s yc hi a t r i c, ps ych ol ogi ca l , orde vel opm ent alev al uat i onsoft he chi l dr en. How eve r , t he f os t erm ot hert est i f i ed t hatR. R. i s dev el opm ent al l y de l aye d a nd i s r ec ei vi ng speech t her apy. Th e r ecor d al so dem onst r at ed t hatFat her ’ s m ot her , w ho l i ved w i t h t he f am i l y, w as unst abl e and suf f er ed f r om m ent al heal t h i ssues. Fat her di d notco m pl et e h i s ps ych ol ogi ca l ev al uat i on, s o i ti s notpa rtoft he r ec or d. Th e r ecor d w as r epl et e w i t h evi dence of t he sevent h and ei ghth f act or s. A s set f ort h i n det ai l above, Fat herand M ot herengaged i n dom est i c vi ol ence o n n u m e ro u s o c c a sion s, res u l ti n g i n l a w en fo rce m e n t an d C P S i n v o l v e m e n t. A ddi t i ona l l y, t he r ec or d r eve al ed t hatFa t herha d s eve r al con vi ct i ons , i ncl udi ng one f orbodi l y i nj ur y t o a chi l d; t hathe abused al coho l ; and t hathe had pr evi ousl y used dr ugs. W it h re g a r d t o t h e t e n t h a n d e le v e n t h f a c t o r s , F a t h e rd id n o tin it ia lly com pl y w i t h hi s servi ce pl an. A tt he t i m e o f th e te rm i nat i on t r i al , Fat herhad50

com pl et ed m os t of t he i t em s on hi s se rvi cepl an, butBow l en t es t i f i ed t hathe h a d fa i l e d to c h a n g e h i sb e h a v i o r. T h e tw e l fth fa c to r— w h e th e r t h e ch i l d ’s fam i l yd e m o n strate s a d e q u a te par ent i ng ski l l s— w as no tp utto t he t estbecause R. R . and V . R . w er e r em oved w h e n t h e yw e r e lit t le a n d b e c a u s e F a t h e rw a sin a n d o u to fja il d u r in g t h e t im e t hi s case w as pen di ng. But t her e w as evi dence t hatw hi l e Fat herand M ot her w er e f i ghti ng, t hey i gno r ed R .R ., w ho w as cryi ng t he ent i r e t i m e t he pol i ce w e re a t th e re s i d e n c e i n re s p o n s e to a d o m e s ti c v i o l e n c e i n c i d e n t. T h e re c o rd al so r eveal ed t hatM ot herand Fat her ’ s counse l o r to l d t he C PS w or kert hat M othe r an d Fathe r w ere no t ca pa bl e of pa r en t i ng ch i l dren “at t hi s ti m e .” A ddi t i onal l y, Fat herdi d not have a saf e physi cal hom e envi r onm entest abl i shed f o rt h e c h ild r e n a so ft h e t im e o ft h e t e r m in a t io n t r ia l. F a t h e rt e s t if ie d re g a r d in g t h e f in a l s t a t u t o ryf a c t o rw h e n h e s a id t h a th is c h i l d r e n w o u ld b e b e t t e ro f fin f o s t e rc a r e t h a n w it h h isf a m ilyb e c a u s e h is f am i l y does not car e. R e g a rding the fi rst Hol leyf a c t o r , t h e c h ild r e n d id n o tt e s t if ya tt r ia l. A l t hough Fa t hert es t i f i ed t ha tb oth he and M ot herca r e f ort he chi l dr en, t he evi den cer eve al ed t hatbot h V. R. an d R. R. ar e d oi ng w el l i n t hei rfos t erhom e and seem bond ed t o t he f ost erpar ent s.51

R egar di ng t he second f act or — t he chi l dr en’ s pr esentand f ut ur e physi cal a n d e m o t io n a l n e e d s — t h e f o s t e rm o t h e rt e s t if ie d t h a tR .R . is d e v e lo p m e n t a lly del ayed and has t ubes i n hi s ear s due t o r ecur r enteari nf ec ti o n s th atcaused hi m m oder at e hear i ng l oss. Bow l en m ent i oned t hat R .R . does not t al k m uch dur i ng t he vi si t s, and t he f ost erm o th ert est i f i ed t hatR. R . i s r ecei vi ng speech th e ra p yto a d d re s sth i s . The t hi r d a nd e i ght h f ac t or s— t he em ot i ona l an d physi ca l da nge rt o t he chi l d now and i n t he f ut ur e and t he act s orom i ssi ons oft he par entw hi ch m ay i ndi cat e t hatt he exi st i ng par ent - chi l d r el at i onshi p i s nota pr operone— w er e at t he hea rtoft hi s ca se . The r ec or d dem ons t r at est hatFat herhi tM ot herdur i ng both of h e rpr egnan ci es and t hatFat herand M ot her ’ s dom est i c vi ol ence d is p u t e sw e r eo n g o in g t h r o u g h C h r is t m a s 2 0 0 7 , w h ic h w a sa p p r o x im a t e lys ix w eeks pr i ort o t he st artoft he t er m i nat i on t r i al . A s m ent i oned ab ove, R. R . w as pr es entdur i ng nu m er ousdom es t i c v i ol enc e i nci den t s pr i ort o hi s r em ova l by C P S . T h e re c o r d a ls o re v e a le d t h a tF a t h e rw a si n a n d o u to fja il d u r in g t h is ca se , l ea vi ng M ot her

— w ho a l so ha d a n a nge rm ana gem entpr obl em — t o pa r ent R .R . a n d tha t M o th e r o ften l e ft R .R . w i th F a th e r’ s m o th e r, w h o se m e n tal h e a l th w asoft en vol at i l e. M or eov er , t he r ec or d c ont ai ned ev i den ceofuns af e a nd uns t abl e h ous i ng.52

R e g a rd i n g th e fo u rth fa c to r— th e p a re n ta l a b i l i ti e so f th e i n d i v i d u a ls s e e k in g c u s t o d y — M o t h e rt e s t if ie d t h a tb e f o r e R .R . w a sre m o v e d f r o m t h e ir hom e, F at herfed, b at hed, an d di aper ed hi m an d w as i nvol ved i n hi s l i f e. Fat her t est i f i ed t ha t h e h a d n e verhi tt he chi l dr en. M ot hert est i f i ed t hatFat heri s a gr eatf at heras l ong as he does notdr i nk. C onc er ni ng t he f i f t h f ac t or , Fa t heratt em pt ed to be t t erhi m se l fby att end i ng par ent i ng cl as se s, t w el ve w ee ks of i ndi vi dua l cou ns el i ng, t w el ve w e e k so fc ou pl e sc ou ns e l i ng , a ng e rm a na ge m e ntc l a s s e s , a nd t heCA TS pr ogr am . How eve r , hef ai l ed t o und er go a ps ych ol ogi ca l ev al uat i on. R e g a rd i n g th e p a rti e s ’ p l a n sfo r th e c h i l d re n — th e s i x th fa c to r— F a th e r’s p l a n s re g a rding h i s p a ren tal ri g h ts w e re c o n fu sing , b u t o v e ral l , h e a p p e a red to w a n t th e c h i l d re n p l a c e d w i th M o th e r a n d s a i d th a t h e w o u l d fi n a n c i a l l ys u p p o rt t he chi l dr en and M ot her . Fa t herad m i t t ed t hat he di d not hav e a s t abl e h om e a v a ila b le t o p u tt h e c h ild r e n in a so ft h e t im e o ft r ia l. M ot hert es t i f i ed t hatFat herw oul d be a good f at heran d w oul d c om e a nd vi si t , but she i s not sur e t hati tw oul d be a goo d t hi ng f orhi m t o vi si tbecause h e l i k e sto d ri n ka n d b e c a u s e s h e d i d n o t “ k n o w h o w h i sre a c ti o n sw o u l d b e .” M ot hersai d t hats he hasco nce r nst hatFa t herw oul d bedr i nki ng a nd no tt ak i ng ca r e o ft he chi l dr en.53

Bot h Cu m be r ba t ch and Bow l en t es t i f i ed t hatCPS ’ s pl an w asf ort he chi l dr en t o bead opt ed by t hei rcu r r entf os t erf am i l y. R e g a rd i n g the sta b i l i ty o f t h e p rop o se d p l a c e m e n t— th e se v e n th fac to r— th e ev i d e n c e d e m o n strate d tha t t e rm i n a ti n g F a th e r’ s p a ren tal ri g h ts w o u ld a llo w C P S t o p u r s u e a d o p t iv e p la c e m e n t sf o rt h e c h ild r e n , w h ic h w o u ld al l ow t hem t o ha ve t he st abi l i t y l ac ki ng i n t hei rcu r r ents i t uat i on. Fi nal l y, co nce r ni ng t he ni nt h f ac t or — anyexcus e f ort he par ent s’ ac t s or o m is s io n s — F a t h e ra d m it t e d d r in k in g a lc o h o l p r io rt o s e v e r a l o ft h e d o m e s t ic vi ol enc e e pi so des . Fa t hers ai d t hathekn ow s t hati ti s w r ong t o hi t M ot heran d t hatassaul t s do notcr eat e a saf e envi r onm ent. H e f el tt hathe w as a bett er m an aft erco m pl et i ng hi s par ent i ng c l as se s and co uns el i ng. I n s um , t he r ec or d de m ons t r at est hat C PS a nd t he pol i ceha d e xt ens i ve in v o lv e m e n tw it h t h is f a m ily . F a t h e r ’s lo n g h i s t o ryo fe n g a g in g in d o m e s t ic vi ol enc e, di f f i cul t y m ai ntai ni ng s af e a nd s t abl e h ous i ng, i nco ns i st ent em pl oym enthi st or y w i t h no guar ant eed i ncom e, an d i napp r opr i at e choi ces t hat p u t h i s ch i l d ren i n d a n g e r, su c h a s al l o w i n g h i s m o th e r t o l i v e w i th the m d e sp i te h e r un sta b l e m e n tal h e a l th an d v o l a ti l e rel a ti o n sh i p w i th M o th e r, alld e m o n strate t hati tw asi n t he chi l dr en’ s bes ti nt er es tt hatFa t her ’ s par ent alr i ght s be te rm i n a te d . S eeT e x . F a m . C o d e A n n . § 1 6 1 .0 0 1 (2 ).54

G i vi ng du e c ons i der at i on t o e vi den cet hatt he f ac t f i nde rco ul d ha ve r e a s o n a b l y f o u n d t o b e c l e a r a n d c o n v i n c i n g , a n d b a s e d o n o u r r e v i e w oft he e n ti re re c o rd , w e h o l d th a t a re a s o n a b l e tri e r o f fa c t c o u l d h a v e fo rm e d a fi rm b e lie fo rc o n v ic t io n t h a tt h e t e r m in a t io n o fF a t h e r ’s p a r e n t a l rig h t sw o u ld b e in th e c h i l d re n ’sb e s t i n te re s t. Se eI n reM. B. , No. 02- 07- 00280

- C V, 2008 W L 2 9 3 0 5 3 0 , a t * 1 4 (T e x . A p p .— F o rt W o rth J u l y 3 1 , 2 0 0 8 , n o p e t.) (m e m . o p .) ( hol di ng t hatevi dence w as f act ual l y suf f i ci entt o suppo rtj ur y’ s f i ndi n g t hat t er m i nat i on of appel l ant ’ s par ent al r i ghtsw as i n chi l dr en’ s besti nt er estbecause TD FPS had r ecei ved e i g h t t o t en r ef er r al s aboutappel l ant ; appel l anthad di f f i cul t y m ai nt ai ni ng s af e a nd s t abl e h ous i ng; ap pel l antha d a n i nco ns i st ent em pl oym enthi st ory w i t h no gua r ant ee d i nco m e; an d a ppe l l antm ade in a p p r o p r i a t e c h o ic e sb yliv in g w it h a s e xo f f e n d e ra n d e n g a g in g in d o m e s t ic v i o l e n c e ); see al

so I n re S. M. L. , 171 S. W . 3d 472 , 480 ( Tex. A pp . — H ous t on [ 14 t h D i st . ] 20 05 , no pet . ) ( hol di ng t hat cl ear and convi nci ng evi dence exi st ed t hatt er m i nat i o n off at her ’ s par ent al r i ghtsw as i n chi l d’ s besti nt er estw her e, am ong ot her f ac t or s, f at her w as i nca r ce r at ed at t i m e o ft er m i nat i on he ar i ng a nd had a patt er n ofcr i m i naland vi ol entconduc t ) . A cc or di ngl y, w e hol d t hatt he evi den ce i s f ac t ual l y su f f i ci ent t o su pport t he t r i al cou rt ’ s bes t - i nt er es tf i ndi ng. W e over r ul e Fat her ’ s f i r sti ssue.55 IV . C ONC L USI ON H avi ng s us t ai ned a port i on ofM ot her ’ s f i r sti ss ue and a port i on of Fat her ’ s second i ssue, w e r em and t hi s case t o t he t r i al co urtso t hatnot i ce m ay be se nti n c om pl i an ce w i t h t he I C W A , asout l i ned ab ove . I f , aft ernot i cean d a h ea r i ng, t he t r i al cou rt det er m i nes t hat R. R. and V . R. ar e n otI ndi an chi l dr en, t hen t he t er m i nat i on j udgm entoft he t r i alcourti s af f i r m ed. I f , af t ernot i cean d a hear i ng, t he t r i al courtdet er m i nes t hatR. R . and V . R . ar e I ndi an chi l dr en, t hen t h e t e r m in a t io n ju d g m e n to ft h e t r ia l c o u rtis r e v e r s e d , a n d t h e t r ia l c o u rts h a ll c o n d u c t a n e w tri a l a p p l y i n g th e IC W A . See, e. g. , Junious M ., 1 4 4 C a l. A p p .3 d a t 7 8 8 , 1 9 3 C a l . R p tr. a t 4 0 ; R. E. K. F. , 698 N . W . 2d at 150 ( ci t i ng n u m e ro u s c a s e s u ti l i z i n g th i sp ro c e d u re ); I. E. M. , 233 M i c h. A pp . at450, 592 N . W . 2 d a t7 5 8 ; C. H. , 510 N . W . 2d at124. Havi ng ov er r ul ed t he bal anc e o f M ot he r’ s fi rsti ssue, t he bal ance ofFat her ’ s second i ssue, and Fat her ’ s f i r st i ssue, w e gr antonl y t he r el i efout l i ned abo ve.

SU E W A LKER J U S T I C E PA N EL: G A RD N ER, W A LKER, an d M C C O Y, JJ. DEL I VERE D: M a r c h 19, 2009