Alaska LSC Wins Major Victory: State must Recognize Tlingit and Haida Child Support Orders
Legal Services E-lert
Bibliographic Info:
Author: Juneau Empire Staff Report
Source: Juneau Empire, “Judge grants Tlingit, Haida courts child support jurisdiction”
Date: October 31, 2011
The Juneau Empire reports: “A Juneau Superior Court judge issued a ruling earlier this week that granted Tlingit and Haida Alaskan tribal courts jurisdiction to adjudicate child support for children who are members of the tribe. Central Council of Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska, the plaintiffs in the case against the state, heralded the ruling as a victory in reaffirming the tribe’s authority to handle its own family law cases. ‘The Court’s order reaffirms the Tribe’s inherent jurisdiction to handle the full range of family law issues affecting its citizens, including the particular issue of child support for the benefit of tribal children,’ a recent statement from the group read. The tribe, which was represented by Alaska Legal Services Corporation attorney Holly Handler, said the case was brought forth because the state of Alaska failed to honor tribal court support orders issued under the Central Council’s Family Responsibility statute and federally recognized Tribal Child Support Program.”