Sengstock v. San Carlos Apache Tribe

Roland Sengstock, Sr. (Roland) appeals from the order of the circuit court declining to exercise its jurisdiction over a child custody dispute between Roland and his estranged wife who is an enrolled member of the San Carlos Apache Tribe. On appeal Roland argues that the circuit court erred in allowing the San Carlos Apache Tribe to intervene and in refusing to exercise its jurisdiction because of pending proceedings in the tribal court. We affirm the circuit court; it properly granted the motion to intervene because of the tribe's protectible interest and, in this case, the doctrine of…