Miles v. Chinle Family Court

OPINION

This case concerns whether the Navajo Nation courts have jurisdiction over a custody dispute, and whether the Chinle Family Court provided due process to Petitioner when it awarded custody. The Court denies Petitioner’s request for an extraordinary writ.

I

The relevant facts are taken from the Petition and its attachments. Petitioner is a non-Navajo father of an enrolled Navajo child. Petitioner married Real Party in Interest Bertha James Miles (Mother) in Chinle. Their daughter, M.M.1 was born within the Navajo Nation. Her parents’ relationship did not last, however, and Petitioner left…