A federal appeals court is taking a new look at a law giving preference to Native American families in foster care and adoption proceedings involving Native American children.
A three-judge panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans upheld the Indian Child Welfare Act in August. Opponents of the 1978 law sought and got a re-hearing.
On Wednesday, the full 16-member court is to hear arguments.
Opponents of the law called it an unconstitutional race-based intrusion on states' powers to govern adoptions. American Indian groups say the law helps protect and preserve Native American families.