People ex rel. J.A.S.

160 P.3d 257, 2007 Colo. App. LEXIS 21
CourtColorado Court of Appeals
DecidedJanuary 11, 2007
DocketNo. 06CA1441
StatusPublished

This text of 160 P.3d 257 (People ex rel. J.A.S.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Colorado Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
People ex rel. J.A.S., 160 P.3d 257, 2007 Colo. App. LEXIS 21 (Colo. Ct. App. 2007).

Opinion

Opinion by

Judge J. JONES.

L.L.W. (mother) and J.L.S. (father) appeal from a judgment terminating the parent-child legal relationships between them and their children. We affirm.

I. Background

When this dependency and neglect proceeding was initiated in March 2004, father was incarcerated and mother was providing care for the children.

At the first hearing before a magistrate, information was presented indicating that mother was of Indian descent with ties to the Hualapai and Rosebud Sioux tribes. Accordingly, the magistrate ordered the Department of Human Services (department) to notify those tribes of the proceeding, as required by the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978 (ICWA), 25 U.S.C. $ 1901, et seq. (2000), and § 19-1-126, C.R.98.2006.

In April 2004, the parents admitted the petition in dependency and neglect, and treatment plans were approved shortly thereafter. In February 2006, the department filed a motion to terminate their parent-child legal relationships, alleging that although the parents had partially complied with their plans, they had failed to make significant improvement in their ability to provide safe, nurturing care for the children.

On the first day of the May 2006 termination hearing, the department informed the juvenile court that it had notified the Huala-pai and Ogalala Sioux tribes of the proceeding, both of which had responded indicating that the children were not enrolled or eligible for enrollment. Mother asked that the hearing be continued so she could present evidence regarding applicability of the ICWA. Questions also arose as to why the Rosebud Sioux tribe had not been notified. The court ordered the department to make copies of the notice and tribal responses for the parties, denied the motion to continue, and proceeded with the hearing. The hearing, however, could not be concluded that day and was not concluded until three weeks later.

During the interim, the department notified the Rosebud Sioux tribe of the proceeding. The tribe responded, stating that the children were not enrolled or eligible for enrollment in the tribe. After the close of evidence, the juvenile court found that the ICWA was inapplicable because the tribes had determined the children were not enrolled or eligible for enrollment, and it terminated the parents' rights under § 19-3-604(1)(c), C.R.8.2006.

II. Mother's Appeal

A. - Applicability of the ICWA

Mother contends that the juvenile court erred in determining that the ICWA did not apply. She argues that she was not given sufficient notice of the tribes' determinations to permit her to independently ascer[260]*260tain their status as Indian children. We find no error.

Applicability of the ICWA depends on whether the child is an "Indian child." Catholic Charities in Interest of C.C.G., 942 P.2d 1380, 1382 (Colo.App.1997); People in Interest of A.G.-G., 899 P.2d 319, 821 (Colo.App.1995). The ICWA defines "Indian child" as "any unmarried person who is under age eighteen and is either (a) a member of an Indian tribe or (b) is eligible for membership in an Indian tribe and is the biological child of a member of an Indian tribe." 25 U.S.C. § 1908(4) (2000).

Tribal membership is not defined by the ICWA. Instead, each Indian tribe has the authority to determine its membership criteria and to decide who meets those criteria. B.H. v. People in Interest of X.H., 138 P.3d 299, 303 (Colo.2006); People in Interest of A.E., 749 P.2d 450, 452 (Colo.App.1987). A tribe's determination of membership or membership eligibility is conclusive and final. In re S.M.H., 33 Kan.App.2d 424, 428, 103 P.3d 976, 981 (2005); In re Welfare of S.N.R., 617 N.W.2d 77, 84 (Minn.Ct.App.2000); In re Adoption of Riffle, 273 Mont. 237, 242, 902 P.2d 542, 545 (1995); Guidelines for State Courts: Indian Child Custody Proceedings, 44 Fed.Reg. 67,584, 67,586 (1979); see B.H. v. People in Interest of X.H., supra, 128 P.3d at 303; People in Interest of A.G.-G., supra, 899 P.2d at 321; People in Interest of A.E., supra, 749 P.2d at 452.

Here, although mother was not advised of the tribes' determinations until the termination hearing, additional time in which to ascertain the children's tribal membership would have been unavailing because the tribes' determinations were conclusive. Accordingly, we perceive no error in the juvenile court's determination that the ICWA did not apply.

B. Compliance with Treatment Plan

Asserting that she substantially complied with the treatment plan, mother contends that the evidence was insufficient to support the eriteria for termination. We disagree.

To terminate the parent-child legal relationship under § 19-3-604(1)(c), clear and convincing evidence must establish, among other things, that an appropriate treatment plan, approved by the court, has not been complied with by the parent or that the plan has not been successful in rehabilitating the parent. - Section 19-8-604(1)(c)(I), CRS. 2006.

The parent is responsible for seeur-ing compliance with and success of a treatment plan. People in Interest of L.A.C., 97 P.3d 363, 367-68 (Colo.App.2004); People in Interest of A.H., 736 P.2d 425, 428 (Colo.App.1987). Although absolute compliance is not required, partial compliance, or even substantial compliance, may not result in success of the plan by correcting or improving the parent's conduct or condition or by rendering the parent fit. People in Interest of D.L.C., 70 P.3d 584, 588 (Colo.App.2003)

When, as here, a proceeding involves a child under the age of six, reasonable or successful compliance with a treatment plan cannot be found if "[the parent has not attended visitations with the child as set forth in the treatment plan, unless good cause can be shown for failing to visit" or "[the parent exhibits the same problems addressed in the treatment plan without adequate improvement, including but not limited to improvement in the relationship with the child," and remains unable to meet the child's needs. - Section 19-3-604(1)(c)(D(A), (B), C.R.9.2006; see C.S. v. People in Interest of I.S., 83 P.3d 627, 641 (Colo.2004); People in Interest of M.T., 121 P.3d 309, 311 (Colo.App.2005).

The credibility of the witnesses and the sufficiency, probative effect, and weight of the evidence, as well as the inferences and conclusions to be drawn from it, are within the discretion of the trial court.

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Bluebook (online)
160 P.3d 257, 2007 Colo. App. LEXIS 21, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-ex-rel-jas-coloctapp-2007.