Protesters at a #FreeBritney Rally outside the Los Angeles Courthouse today. A judge has cleared the pop star to choose her own lawyer. Emma McIntyre/Getty Images
A Los Angeles Superior Court judge has granted Britney Spears to hire her own lawyer in the long drawn out battle over her conservatorship. And the pop star has chosen Mathew S. Rosengart, a prominent Hollywood lawyer and former federal prosecutor to take up the case.
This was the outcome of a hearing in a Los Angeles courtroom today, where the court had a long list of odds and ends to tie up after Spears' blistering public testimony in June, describing her life under the conservatorship.
The judge approved the resignation of Spears' longtime court-appointed lawyer Samuel D. Ingham III, as well as the resignation of the wealth management company Bessemer Trust who had previously signed on to be the co-conservator of Spears' estate. This leaves Spears' father, Jamie Spears, the sole conservator of her financial dealings.
Spears, who joined the hearing by phone, reiterated to the court that she wanted her father out of her conservatorship. She said that the arrangement "is allowing my dad to ruin my life," and said she was scared of him. Spears talked about feeling trapped, forcefully medicated, and described an instance in which he showed up to her house drunk.
"I'm here to get rid of my dad and charge him with conservatorship abuse," she said.
A #FreeBritney supporter shows her support in front of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. Rallies here held across the country in support of the pop star. BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images
Spears being allowed to choose her own lawyer is being seen as a win from #FreeBritney activists as well as disability rights organizations. This likely marks the beginning of the full-force effort to end Britney Spears' conservatorship. TMZ first reported last week that Spears had approached Rosengart, and he was in the courtroom today ready to hit the ground running, saying he will file a petition to remove Jamie Spears from the conservatorship.
But while the wheels may be in motion on getting him removed from the legal arrangement, Britney Spears has said that she wants the entire conservatorship to end only if it doesn't require a mental evaluation or test.
Britney Spears' case has drawn attention from politicians, too, with everyone from Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., to Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, voicing their support for Britney Spears. Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., was present at the rally outside the courtroom, and spoke in front of #FreeBritney activists in support of the movement.
"news" - Google News
July 15, 2021 at 03:00AM
https://ift.tt/3xFCwVB
Britney Spears Can Choose Her Own Lawyer In Conservatorship Case, A Judge Has Ruled - NPR
"news" - Google News
https://ift.tt/2DACPId
https://ift.tt/2Wh3f9n
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Britney Spears Can Choose Her Own Lawyer In Conservatorship Case, A Judge Has Ruled - NPR"
Post a Comment