Judge suspends Britney Spears’ father from conservatorship
LOS ANGELES – Britney Spears is free.
Britney Spears supporter Brian Molina of Los Angeles celebrates outside the Stanley Mosk Courthouse, Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2021, in Los Angeles. A judge on Wednesday suspended Britney Spears’ father from the conservatorship that has controlled the singer’s life and money for 13 years, saying the arrangement "reflects a toxic environment."
Britney Spears supporters celebrate outside the Stanley Mosk Courthouse, Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2021, in Los Angeles.
Britney Spears supporters demonstrate outside the Stanley Mosk Courthouse, Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2021, in Los Angeles.
Britney Spears supporters demonstrate outside a hearing concerning the pop singer’s conservatorship at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse, Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2021, in Los Angeles.
Britney Spears supporter Kim Van Doorn of Bakersfield, Calif., shows off a "Free Britney" design in her hair outside the Stanley Mosk Courthouse, Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2021, in Los Angeles.
Britney Spears supporters Kiki Norberto, left, of Phoenix, Ariz., and Carlos Morales, of Los Angeles, appear outside the Stanley Mosk Courthouse, Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2021, in Los Angeles.
Britney Spears supporters Adrian Johnson, left, and Lucy Hall perform Spears’ songs outside the Stanley Mosk Courthouse, Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2021, in Los Angeles.
Britney Spears supporter Ashley Montano, left, and her sister-in-law Angela Montano demonstrate outside a hearing concerning the pop singer’s conservatorship at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse, Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2021, in Los Angeles.
A Britney Spears supporter signs a poster board for the singer outside a hearing concerning the pop singer’s conservatorship at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse, Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2021, in Los Angeles.
Britney Spears supporter Mona Montgomery of Glendale, Calif., demonstrates outside the Stanley Mosk Courthouse, Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2021, in Los Angeles.
Britney Spears supporter Amy Wesselman of Long Beach demonstrates outside the Stanley Mosk Courthouse, Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2021, in Los Angeles.
Britney Spears’ attorney, Mathew Rosengart speaks outside the Stanley Mosk Courthouse, Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2021, in Los Angeles.
A Los Angeles judge ruled Wednesday that the pop singer’s father should be suspended as conservator, The Associated Press reported.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Brenda J. Penny made her ruling after hearing arguments from both sides on several petitions in downtown Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Times reported.
John Zabel, a certified public accountant handpicked by Britney Spears’ team, will temporarily succeed James “Jamie” Spears as a fiduciary, interim conservator, according to the Los Angeles Times.
“I do believe that the suspension of James Spears as conservator … is in the best interest of the conservatee,” Penny said. “This order shall be made in full force and effect.”
Penny also ordered Jamie Spears to turn over all assets to Zabel as soon as possible, the newspaper reported.
>> Britney Spears conservatorship hearing: What to expect
Here are some memorable moments from pop star Britney Spears’ life in the public eye.
1998: Britney Spears at the 1998 American Music Awards.
1999: Teen pop sensation Britney Spears performing at Universal Ampitheater for her "Baby One More Time" tour in Universal City, California, on July 31, 1999.
2000: Perfromer Britney Spears, winner of the awards for "Albums of the Year" and "Biggest One Week Sales of an Album by a Female Artist," arrives at the 2000 Billboard Music Awards on December 5, 2000, at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas.
2001: Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake of N’Sync at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles.
2001: Britney Spears onstage performing at the 2001 MTV Video Music Awards held at the Metropolitan Opera House at Lincoln Center in New York City on September 6, 2001.
2002: Britney Spears and boyfriend Justin Timberlake arrive at the premiere of her movie "Crossroads" at the Mann Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, California, on Feb. 11, 2002.
2003: Singers Britney Spears (left), Madonna and Christina Aguilera perform onstage during the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards at Radio City Music Hall on August 28, 2003, in New York City.
2004: Singer Britney Spears and husband Kevin Federline arrive at the 2004 Billboard Music Awards on December 8, 2004, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, in Las Vegas.
2005: Musicians Britney Spears and Kevin Federline arrive at the 2006 Grammy Nominees party with Kanye West, hosted by Verizon Wireless and Rolling Stone Magazine, at the Avalon Hollywood on February 6, 2005, in Hollywood, California.
2006: Singer Britney Spears and husband Kevin Federline arrive at the Sony BMG Grammy Party held at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel on February 8, 2006, in Hollywood, California.
2007: Singer Britney Spears performs on stage during the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards held at The Palms Hotel and Casino on September 9, 2007, in Las Vegas.
2008: Singer Britney Spears performs during the Bambi Awards 2008 Show on November 27, 2008, in Offenburg, Germany.
2009: Singer Britney Spears arrives at the 2009 Teen Choice Awards held at Gibson Amphitheatre on August 9, 2009, in Universal City, California.
2010: Singer Britney Spears and Jason Trawick arrive at the 52nd annual Grammy Awards held at Staples Center on January 31, 2010, in Los Angeles.
2011: Singers Britney Spears and Rihanna perform onstage during the 2011 Billboard Music Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 22, 2011, in Las Vegas.
2012: TV personality Kim Kardashian, honoree Sir Richard Branson and singer Britney Spears attend Clive Davis and the Recording Academy’s 2012 Pre-Grammy Gala and Salute to Industry Icons Honoring Richard Branson held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on February 11, 2012, in Beverly Hills, California.
2013: In this handout photo provided by the LA Dodgers, Britney Spears poses with sons Jayden James Federline (left) and Sean Preston Federline during a game against the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium on April 17, 2013, in Los Angeles.
2014: Singer Britney Spears (right) and cast members from the "Jubilee" show attend a "Britney Day" event at The LINQ Promenade held to celebrate Spears’ Las Vegas residency show "Britney: Piece of Me" on November 5, 2014, in Las Vegas.
2015: Musician Iggy Azalea and musician Britney Spears attend the 2015 Billboard Music Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 17, 2015, in Las Vegas.
2016: Singer Britney Spears performs at the Jingle Ball 2016 on December 2, 2016, in Los Angeles.
2017: Singer Britney Spears attends Pre-Grammy Gala and Salute to Industry Icons Honoring Debra Lee at the Beverly Hilton on February 11, 2017, in Los Angeles.
2018: Honoree Britney Spears attends the 29th annual GLAAD Media Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on April 12, 2018, in Beverly Hills, California.
2019: Britney Spears and Sam Asghari attend Sony Pictures’ "Once Upon A Time … in Hollywood" Los Angeles Premiere on July 22, 2019, in Hollywood, California.
Jamie Spears filed a petition earlier this month seeking an end to the conservatorship that has controlled the singer’s finances and life for more than a decade. It came weeks after he agreed to step down as her financial conservator, a position he has held since 2008.
In court filings, Jamie Spears urged Penny to make a decision on Wednesday, The Associated Press reported.
https://twitter.com/christicarras/status/1443288579375984640?s=20
Britney Spears spoke out in court on June 23, calling the conservatorship “abusive” and asked for it to end.
>> Britney Spears asks judge to end court conservatorship
“I’m traumatized, I’m not happy,” Spears, 39, told Penny at the time. “I can’t sleep. I’m so angry. It’s insane.”
“As Mr. Spears has said again and again, all he wants is what is best for his daughter,” Jamie Spears’ attorney, Vivian Thoreen, wrote in the petition, according to NPR. “If Ms. Spears wants to terminate the conservatorship and believes that she can handle her own life, Mr. Spears believes that she should get that chance.”
>> Britney Spears’ father files to end court conservatorship
Jamie Spears sought a conservatorship for his daughter in 2008, as Britney Spears underwent a series of public mental health struggles exacerbated by constant and obsessive media scrutiny, according to the AP. The singer’s father, through Thoreen, has flip-flopped since mid-August whether to remain as Britney Spears’ conservator, the Times reported. Jamie Spears initially stated that he was prepared to step down, but not right away. Then he petitioned the court in early September to end the conservatorship.
Britney Spears’ attorney, Matthew Rosengart, said in court records obtained by the AP that Jodi Montgomery, a court-appointed professional who has served as the conservator of Britney Spears’ person since 2019, has consented to ending the conservatorship so long as it can be done safely and smoothly.
Outside the courthouse Wednesday, demonstrators donned pink-accented “Free Britney” T-shirts, the Times reported.
