Judge Delays Ruling on Navajo Baby’s Adoption

TUBA CITY, Ariz. — A San Jose, Calif., couple seeking to adopt a Navajo baby have been given temporary custody of the child until another hearing can be held Friday.

A Navajo tribal judge issued the ruling after a closed-door hearing Wednesday.

Rick and Cheryl Pitts were ordered to keep the child, 9-month-old Allyssa Kristian Keetso, on the reservation pending Friday’s temporary custody hearing.

Tribe Has Final Say

Under federal law, Indian tribes have the final say in the adoption of Indian children by non-Indian parents.

It was not immediately known why Judge Manuel Watchman of Navajo Tribal Children’s Court recessed the hearing until Friday.

However, Robert Walters, a lawyer appointed by the tribe as an advocate for the child, came out of the hearing after an hour and said he had been disqualified and was under a gag order. “The baby has no representation,” he said.

Walters said he was ordered off the case after seeking dismissal of the tribal action that had brought the custody issue before the Childrens’ Court.

Favors Adoption

Allyssa’s natural mother, Patricia Keetso, has said she wants her daughter adopted by the Pittses because they could provide her with a better life.

But the Pittses were ordered by a California judge last week to turn the child over to Navajo social workers, which they did on April 15.

Meanwhile, Navajo tribal officials have disputed reports that Allyssa was not properly cared for after the tribal social workers took custody of her.

Had Slight Fever

Robert Nakai, administrator at an Indian Health Service hospital in Tuba City, said the baby had a slight fever when examined on Sunday, but otherwise was in good condition. He said the baby had been vomiting because of the use of a new formula, but he said that stopped when the formula was changed.