Opinion ID: 2358472
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Trial May 2009

Text: The Eberts stated in their pretrial memorandum that they had concede[d] in their adoption petition that [Timothy] is an Indian Child as a result of [Connie's] affiliation with the [Tribe]. The Eberts also noted they had served a hearing notice on the Tribe's ICWA coordinator. The Eberts nonetheless asserted that (1) Bruce had not been entitled to ICWA protections until he established his paternity in October 2008, and (2) because from that time forward a heightened evidentiary standard applied for the potential termination of Bruce's parental rights, they would prove his parental unfitness beyond a reasonable doubt. [10] Trial was held May 1, 13, and 18, 2009. On May 1 the Eberts filed proposed findings of fact stating ICWA plays into this case as a result of [Connie's] membership in the [Tribe]. Connie testified that she is a member of the Tribe. The Eberts introduced a certificate from the United States Department of the Interior Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) stating that Timothy's bloodline is 25/64 Eskimo. Bruce did not present any additional evidence on Timothy's status as an Indian child under ICWA. Bruce testified that after Timothy's birth he had gone to the hospital to try to get his name added to the birth certificate and that he sought paternity testing there and at the Bureau of Vital Statistics without success. He testified that his appointed counsel from the initial adoption case pointed him to the Child Support Enforcement Division (CSED), that he filed paperwork with CSED in March 2008, but that he learned two months later CSED could not proceed without a custodian's consent or a court order. Bruce testified that he had previously had another child's parentage tested, but the process was different because the birth certificate listed him as the father and the child was in his physical custody. Bruce's mother testified that he asked her for money to consult a lawyer but that she had not been able to help him. She testified Bruce asked at least three times: first shortly after Timothy's birth, again when Timothy was approximately six months old, and at least one more time before Timothy was a year-and-a-half old. Bruce testified that he could not have gone to anyone else for a loan. Bruce testified that he had $600 monthly child support obligations for other children and that he was about $4,000 in arrears. Bruce also testified he was evicted from his residence in October 2007 for nonpayment of rent. On May 15, 2009, Bruce filed a memorandum on ICWA's remedial services clause [11] in which he stated: There appears to be no dispute that [Timothy] is an Indian child. . . . The pending adoption petition alleges that [Timothy] is an Indian child. The adoption petitioners have submitted evidence that [Timothy] is an Indian child. The Eberts filed a closing brief on May 26 in which they stated that ICWA had applicability to [Connie] and [the Tribe] from the time of [Timothy]'s birth, but that ICWA did not apply to Bruce until he established his paternity on October 10, 2008, by which time his right to withhold consent had lapsed for failure to support and communicate with Timothy. The trial court concluded in its June 5, 2009 written decision that (1) [Timothy] is not an `Indian Child' within the meaning of [ICWA], (2) Bruce's consent to the adoption was unnecessary because he ha[d] not produced `justifiable cause' for [his] failure to communicate with or support Timothy for more than one year, and (3) there was clear and convincing evidence that [Bruce was] unfit to parent [Timothy] and denying the adoption would be detrimental and contrary to Timothy's welfare. The trial court's written decision did not expressly terminate Bruce's parental rights, but in later supplemental findings the court stated that [p]ursuant to [the June 5, 2009] findings of fact and conclusions of law Bruce's parental rights were terminated. The trial court later accepted Connie's adoption consent [12] and decreed Timothy's adoption by the Eberts. Bruce appeals.