In re Jeremy R. CA2/7

INTRODUCTION

Christopher R. appeals from the juvenile court’s order terminating his parental rights over Jeremy R. (born 2016), and twins Angel R. and Jordan R. (born 2021) under Welfare and Institutions Code section 366.26.1 Christopher’s sole contention on appeal is that the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services (the Department) and the juvenile court failed to comply with the initial inquiry requirements of the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978 (25 U.S.C. § 1901 et seq.) (ICWA) and related California law. Christopher argues the Department failed to interview the children’s maternal grandfather, paternal aunt and great-aunt, and maternal aunt and uncle as to the children’s possible Indian ancestry, and the court prejudicially erred in finding without a further inquiry that ICWA did not apply. The Department argues it thoroughly inquired about Indian ancestry from the paternal great-grandmother, the paternal great-grandfather, the paternal grandfather, the paternal grandmother, the maternal grandmother and the maternal great-grandmother, and

All undesignated statutory references are to the Welfare and Institutions Code unless otherwise specified.

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