Opinion ID: 891574
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 16

Heading: Tribal-State Comity

Text: {62} Where does this leave the question of tribal jurisdiction? We are unable, in the absence of congressional guidance, to make any final determination as to that issue. It is not for us as a state court to say whether the Pojoaque Pueblo, subject to the plenary power of Congress, has jurisdiction. We do note, however, the strong congressional expression in favor of tribal self-determination as to the upbringing of tribal children  a policy that is particularly important here, where both children are enrolled members of the Pojoaque Pueblo. See 25 U.S.C. § 1901(3) ([T]here is no resource that is more vital to the continued existence and integrity of Indian tribes than their children.); Miss. Band of Choctaw Indians v. Holyfield, 490 U.S. 30, 37, 109 S.Ct. 1597, 104 L.Ed.2d 29 (1989) (observing that the Indian Child Welfare Act seeks to protect the rights of the Indian child as an Indian and the rights of the Indian community and tribe in retaining its children in its society (internal quotation marks and citation omitted)). {63} For purposes of resolving the case before us, the district court on remand should assume that the tribal court has jurisdiction, as we hope and assume that the tribal court will treat the district court's exercise of jurisdiction as proper. In short, the courts should treat tribal and state-court jurisdiction over this child-custody matter as concurrent  a concept that is not unfamiliar in New Mexico law. See State Sec., Inc. v. Anderson, 84 N.M. 629, 632, 506 P.2d 786, 789 (1973) (State jurisdiction does not eliminate Indian jurisdiction, it exists concurrently with it.); Wacondo v. Concha, 117 N.M. 530, 534, 873 P.2d 276, 280 (Ct.App.1994) (holding that concurrent state-tribal jurisdiction over torts committed within a Pueblo by a member of another Pueblo is not preempted by federal law). Other states have also recognized concurrent state-tribal jurisdiction involving child-custody disputes where at least one of the parties does not reside on reservation land. See John, 982 P.2d at 759; In re Marriage of Skillen, 287 Mont. 399, 956 P.2d 1, 18 (1998). {64} We acknowledge that concurrent jurisdiction runs counter to the purpose of both the UCCJEA and the PKPA, but for the reasons explained above, neither of those statutes can bind the tribal court in this case to give full faith and credit to the state court's exercise of jurisdiction. We also recognize that concurrent jurisdiction could potentially result in conflicting orders emanating from tribal and state courts. This does not mean, however, that the tribes and the state cannot defer to one another. Quite to the contrary, we have always encouraged tribal courts and state courts to liberally apply principles of comity so as to avoid unnecessarily conflicting judgments and to promote efficiency and justice. New Mexico recognizes the following broad principles of the doctrine of comity: [S]tate courts recognize foreign judgments where the proceedings on which the judgment is based are not contrary to the public policy of the forum, where the judgment sought to be recognized was rendered under circumstances wherein the foreign court had jurisdiction over the subject matter and the parties, and where the parties were given an opportunity for a full and fair hearing on the issues. Watson v. Blakely, 106 N.M. 687, 690, 748 P.2d 984, 987 (Ct.App.1987), overruled on other grounds by Kelly Inn No. 102, Inc. v. Kapnison, 113 N.M. 231, 239, 824 P.2d 1033, 1041 (1992). {65} Our state has a long and laudable tradition of comity between state and tribal courts, particularly where the upbringing and well-being of children are concerned. We are aware of state and tribal courts which routinely sit in joint sessions in our state, particularly on child-custody issues, and we generally encourage the spirit behind this practice. This tradition can survive only where courts actively strive to reach common ground. Our state's Tribal-State Judicial Consortium was formed in 1997 with precisely these goals in mind. [10] We recognize the strong interests of both tribal and state courts in adjudicating custody disputes, but we also recognize that clashes between courts can do much more harm than good to the well-being of the children involved. {66} Comity is neither a matter of absolute obligation, on the one hand, nor of mere courtesy and good will, upon the other. Hilton v. Guyot, 159 U.S. 113, 163-64, 16 S.Ct. 139, 40 L.Ed. 95 (1895). Other jurisdictions have recognized that comity provides the best general analytical framework for recognizing tribal judgments. Wilson v. Marchington, 127 F.3d 805, 810 (9th Cir.1997); see Fredericks v. Eide-Kirschmann Ford, Mercury, Lincoln, Inc., 462 N.W.2d 164, 167-68 (N.D.1990); Mexican v. Circle Bear, 370 N.W.2d 737, 741 (S.D.1985). In addition, the UCCJEA itself facilitates communication between courts for purposes of child-custody determinations. See § 40-10A-110 (stating that a New Mexico court may communicate with a court in another state concerning a proceeding arising under the UCCJEA); § 40-10A-112 (outlining processes for cooperation between courts). We instruct the district court to apply these principles on remand. {67} We suspect that in the end there may be no conflict of substance between the courts. However, as a cautionary note, we emphasize that the interests of comity do not outweigh the district court's independent obligation to consider the child's best interests in coming to a custody determination. See NMSA 1978, § 40-4-9(a) (1977) (providing that the district court must determine custody in accordance with the best interests of the child). If the two courts cannot reach consensus, the district court has its own duty to perform; it must adjudicate the dispute.