Valerie M. v. Arizona Department of Economic Security

OPINION

BALES, Justice.

¶ 1 Under Arizona law, parental rights may be terminated if clear and convincing evidence establishes a statutorily identified ground, such as abandonment or neglect, and a preponderance of the evidence shows that termination is in the child’s best interests. We hold that the Indian Child Welfare Act (“ICWA”), 25 U.S.C. §§ 1901 to 1963 (2000), does not require these state-law findings to be made by a higher standard of proof in cases involving Indian children.

I. FACTS AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

¶2 This case concerns the termination of the parental rights of Valerie M. as…