Resolution: Michigan Indian Family Preservation Act

MICHIGAN JUDGES ASSOCIATION Resolution in support of Michigan Indian Family Preservation Act

WHEREAS, the Michigan Judges Association is committed to the

improvement of the process and outcomes of child protection cases throughout

the State of Michigan; and

WHEREAS, the Conference of Chief Justices through Resolution 5, 2011 and

the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges through separate

resolutions, recognize that tribal courts serve the children and families of

sovereign nations with the same authority and responsibility as state courts; and

WHEREAS, the Conference of Chief Justices encourages each state court

judge to communicate and collaborate with their tribal court counterparts when a

Native American child or family may be involved in a case, and the National

Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges is committed to complying with the

letter and spirit of the Indian Child Welfare Act; and

WHEREAS, the Michigan Judges Association has a history of working to

improve state-tribal court relations through Michigan’s Court Improvement

Program including: the creation of an ICWA Court Resource Guide; statewide

ICWA training for state and tribal justice systems; ICWA training for new state and

tribal judges; ICWA amendments to the Michigan Court Rules; and proposed state

ICWA legislation to encourage and reinforce compliance with the letter and spirit

of the law by state court justice systems.

BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Michigan Judges Association supports

the adoption and enactment of the proposed Indian Family Preservation Act by

the Michigan legislature, in recognition of its ongoing commitment to improve the

process and outcomes of child protection cases throughout the State of Michigan.

http://turtletalk.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/resolution-in-support-mifpa-2.pdf





[The Judges passed this unanimously! If every state did this, we could celebrate!...Trace]