Early in Britney Spears’ statement in court last week, she told the judge that she didn’t know that her lawyer could file to terminate her conservatorship. The news was somewhat lost in the larger narrative of abuse and the lack of disability and reproductive rights within Britney’s statement. It’s clear that Britney has been deeply unhappy and flat-out traumatized by her conservatorship. But it’s negligence from her lawyer that Britney didn’t even know that she could ask for the whole thing to be terminated. All Britney’s lawyer has asked from the court is that they make changes to the conservatorship. In fact, Britney’s heart-wrenching statement came as part of the ongoing hearing to simply remove Jamie Spears as permanent conservator. One week later, and the judge has denied the request:
A judge has shot down Britney Spears’ request to have her father removed from her conservatorship — at least for now. New court documents that were filed by the Los Angeles Superior Court on Wednesday show that the judge has denied a months-old request by Spears’ attorney, Samuel Ingham III, to remove her father, Jamie Spears, as her sole conservator. These documents are not in direct response to last week’s hearing, where Spears gave an explosive testimony; though Spears delivered a powerful 24-minute statement, the judge cannot make any ruling based on what she said as she still has yet to file a petition to terminate her conservatorship.
“The conservator’s request to suspend James P. Spears immediately upon the appointment of Bessemer Trust Company of California as sole conservator of estate is denied without prejudice,” the court documents filed on Wednesday stated.
The new court filings are another legal setback for the singer, but the judge’s denial is nothing new. Samuel Ingham III had filed the request to remove Spears’ father back in November 2020, stating that his client was “afraid of her father” and would refuse to perform again, if her father continued to be in charge of her career. At that time, Judge Brenda Penny declined to suspend her father from the conservatorship, though she did not rule out future petitions for his removal or suspension. Also, at that time, the judge appointed financial company Bessemer Trust as a co-conservator.
Today’s paperwork was solely intended for the judge to approve Bessemer Trust as the co-conservator, but also reiterates the judge’s decision to not remove the elder Spears from the pop star’s conservatorship. However, it’s significant that the document was signed by Judge Penny on June 30 — after the singer’s explosive testimony where she told the judge that her conservatorship was “abusive.”
It’s not good news, and it’s basically showcasing the sh-ttiness of the laws around conservatorships, which are seriously lacking in fail-safes for abusive conservators. That being said, Britney needs new lawyers. This ruling didn’t happen because Britney “doesn’t have a case.” This ruling happened because her lawyer sucks and he’s terrible at his job. Britney needs legal representation with people who know they’re working for her, people who know conservatorship law backwards and forwards, and people who will give Britney a lot of options about how to proceed.
Photos courtesy of Backgrid, Avalon Red and Britney’s IG.
The law should allow for conservators who know the person to be removed on demand. There is NO reason to keep one person as the conservator. It’s a recipe for abuse.
I’m a conservator for someone in California. I know the hoops I have to jump through every two years, and rightly so. A court investigator also visits the conservatee in person. The investigator reports to a judge. There are other state eyeballs on the conservatee and me, such as a social worker. None of it is fail safe and that’s why the system has built-in redundancies.
My conservatee is penniless and lives in a state-funded group home. Why does Britney Spears not have the level of protection from abuse as my conservatee?
My conservatee lives a happy life and is loved , despite the many curveballs life has thrown.
I wish the same for Britney
My guess is Bitney is not homeless and she makes millions of dollar, everyone around her sees only money and not her well being.
So why can’t Britney appeal this decision? And isn’t it the judge that appointed Britney’s lawyer in the first place? How can she go about getting a new lawyer? I feel terrible for her, she is truly completely trapped.
Brittney is not deemed competent to choose her own lawyer. Her father controls who represents her. It’s a nightmare scenario that appears to have no end.
@Mac Exactly right. This is the ultimate Catch-22. Her only hope of freedom is via competent legal representation. But she can’t hire her own lawyers. Her conservators – the very people she’s suing – have that power.
I’m realizing I really don’t understand how a conservatorship works. I understand guardianship, but this makes no sense to me.
I’m so furious at her incompetent lawyers that are being paid SO MUCH!
God, the news today just sucks for women.
+1
Out of the loop, what happened??
EDIT: Nevermind, I scrolled further down.
I hope that somehow Britney will have an advocate for HER and this can be worked out.
I feel like she messed it up by being honest about wanting to get married and have a baby. She never said she would get married with out a prenup. Her partner is younger and attractive (she’s also very beautiful/attractive) and people assume he could be using her to get that child support money and she needs to be protected. Hopefully he’s not but if he is that’s not a reason for Jamie to be involved. There are so many celebrities that get “used” like this particularly old men, why don’t any of them have keepers?
Reproductive freedom means the right to procreate or not procreate. Brittney’s human rights are being denied by what amounts to forced sterilization. The judge should act immediately to protect Brittney’s fundamental rights.
The meds she takes cause a high probability of birth defects. For her to have a safe pregnacy she would have to go off of them. For a long time. Do you want head shaving Britney in charge of an infant.
If I have to read one more ignorant comment stating that she had to have the IUD because of the medications she is taking, whoever makes the statement will have to answer two questions:
1. List the medications
2. Explain why all men and women currently prescribed these same medications in the US are not forced to undergo vasectomies (which can be reversed when the meds aren’t needed) and other temporary sterilization procedures, as a prerequisite to taking the same medications.
@Robert, this and your other comments on this thread show you’re a vile pos and I honestly hope you never even breathe the same air as a woman or any neurodivergent/mentally ill person.
@ElleE, don’t even bother. Ableists will be ableists. They don’t see us as human. We’re like pets or children that must be kept under control for “our own good”.
Brit needs a new lawyer and then make a brand new request to the court to terminate the whole thing.
Am angry for her but there is still hope – she just needs to get a better lawyer and I hope she gets the help and support she needs to make that happen.
She CANT get a new lawyer, and she’s deemed unfit to manager her own decisions and finance. This lawyer is funded by her father. Meanwhile, her father has the best lawyers money can buy because he’s allowed access to Britney’s money. It’s insane.
The judge needs to be investigated
+1
+2
+3
@Nomegusta, your alias is exactly how I feel about this judge.
Today is an awful day to be a woman in America. Both this and Bill Cosby’s release are outrageous.
I hope she gets a better lawyer and ends the conservatorship. How can a woman lose all rights for years upon years with no trial or panel of judges approval? People convicted of crimes do less time than Brittney.
I just read an analysis that said the ruling is based on a motion filed last November and “not related” to the current hearing so I’m assuming there’s a legal reason why the judge had to limit her ruling specifically to what was contained in that motion. Perhaps the lawyers among us can provide insight to this?
I am not a lawyer, but my understanding is that Britney’s attorney has not yet filed a petition to end the conservatorship. Back in November, her attorney filed a petition to replace Jamie Spears with Bessemer Trust. The judge agreed to add Bessemer Trust as a co-conservator, but decided not to remove Jamie Spears. Since Britney has not filed another petition since last fall, the judge can not make decisions based on her recent testimony.
Well this is interesting and makes sense. It’s not great news but it’s no reason for hysteria. Interesting how it gets reported.
It does make you wonder why the judge waited to file this … sometimes it seems like they are all – including the judge – in on it. It’s very disturbing because of course reports sound like it’s related to Britney’s testimony last week. The judge should be removed! (She is not, someone asked above, the judge who dodgily approved the conservatorship to begin with. She is the second judge involved.) And totally agree with article noting that she needs a new, very skilled attorney… Her father’s attorneys are, I imagine, considered top notch (tho’ not sure about ethics) yet she is also paying for them – to fight her wishes.
Bessemer is bailing-they want no part of this. There is more to the Britney story, I can’t help but feel there are people who would like to get their hands o her money- like the boyfriend- does he work? I hope they have an iron clad NDA because I would hate for all her business- (medical history) sold to the Daily Mirror.
@ Tinnie, that is what gets me. What is the end goal for Britney besides her father living off of her and paying to keep her with ill-equipped attorney who is also living a lifestyle that he has grown accustomed to. The bottom line is that Britney needs her own defense attorney who will work for her, not under control from her awful father. Jamie is paying top dollars, though not his money, to keep himself as her conservator. This is heartbreaking and I wish the judge would at least remove her current attorney for someone that has her best interest at heart, not the gold digging, incompetent one she has now. Jamie has paid good money, none of his own, to keep her under his thumb.
Maybe we all need to listen to the doctors who are treating her. Just because she says she is okay doesn’t mean she is. Most people with mental illness will always tell you they are fine, then turn around and try to set the house on fire. Read the part in her statement where she refuses to be evaluated again. Do you really think a judge is going to change anything without a doctor talking to her and saying she’s okay to take care of herself? Yet she is refusing to do this. Yes maybe her father needs to be replaced. Not because he did anything wrong. I don’t think he did. But because it is driving a wedge between Britney and her family. She’s feeling parinoid that everyone is out to get her.
Honestly my heart just breaks for britney.
The judge keeps denying her request and then adds a “for now“. How horrible. Just moving the carrot a little further ahead each time. What a cruel way to extinguish hope.
This is terrifying. How can this be happening in 2021??
Controlling women and taking away their rights has never gone out of style.
“Leave Britney alone” might be the smartest three words in the English language.
This is truly heartbreaking. Is there nothing that can be done for that poor woman?
Yesterday was exhausting. Three big stories just showed how women continue to be let down by the legal system: Franco, Cosby, and this.
No wonder survivors of abuse are reluctant to use the courts as a source of justice and accountability. The courts just continue cycles of abuse and trauma.
And then there’s Trevor Bauer. What a horrific story that is.
It was an extremely sad day for women. I was so angry that Cosby was released. I am sick of the justice system treating women like they are disposable. Try and get a restraining order, and you are told that if he hasn’t actually harmed you, you don’t need one. Then the women end up severely beaten, raped and/or killed. Not to mention when children are involved.
I think there’s way more to this than anyone even realizes
This. But her dad doesn’t have to be her legal guardian. The judge could have appointed someone else. They will ruin her mental health.
Exactly, Angel. We obviously do not have the whole story. Perhaps she requires more help/supervision than we can see with the liited facts we have. But if she is so against it being her dad, there is ZERO reason it has to be him. This is so frighteningly old fashioned, she is almost 40 years old and her dad controls her reproductive choices for god’s sake.
Do you mean there is more reason to keep the guardianship? That could well be, but losing all rights, to even sign a check or get a pedicure, needs to be transparent and not only open to one judges opinion.
Judges often have way too much power. I also know that the entirety of the records on this case are not public so we have missing pieces to this puzzle.
With the pedicure…isn’t it possible Britney didn’t understand why she couldn’t get a pedicure during the pandemic? Maybe her staff was going to places that remained open outside of the law, but honestly, her testimony made it sound like she didn’t understand the stay at home orders applied to everyone in CA.
I don’t understand why her dad has to stay her legal gardian. Why can’t she appoint a third party ?
There’s probably some fear that she’s surrounding herself with untrustworthy people who may not have her best interest at heart. Speculating here of course.
Untrustworthy people who don’t have her best interests at heart sounds like her family more than anyone else.
Legally she is deemed incompetent and unable to make decisions for herself. Her conservator calls all the shots.
This is way more complicated than this article makes it seem. Britney has a few conservators that control different parts of her life. The judge here just appointed another one. I agree with the writer though that Britney’s real problem is that her lawyer sucks. He’s made millions keeping her ignorant in this situation. He’s not working on her behalf. He needs to be removed immediately.
I don’t understand how is this even legal. This is a shame.
I knew it is going to be a long fight. This sucks, but Britney Spears will get her life back… Right now, she needs new lawyers that are not “fame and fortune”hungry like Gloria Allred and her daughter. Lawyers like Times Up movement or anyone that doesn’t crave attention. This fight isn’t over #FreeBritney
I feel horrible for her, but I also don’t know her diagnosis. Maybe she doesn’t have such bad lawyers, we really don’t know the entire story. Perhaps she would self-harm if left on her own? Maybe she is not capable of taking care of herself? Honestly it is a little troubling that she doesn’t mention her two children and trying to get custody of them, and instead talks about wanting a new baby. We also know nothing about her boyfriend. I am truly worried about her, she seems like a beautiful fragile bird in a gilded cage. Her eyes are haunted like one of my family members who suffers from a severe mental illness and almost killed her child. The people responsible for her know things we aren’t privy too, and maybe they feel this is the only way to keep her safe.
Imagine she gets free and ends up killing herself? Or on drugs living under a bridge? She has lost it before. Are the same people screaming “save Britney” going to blame her lawyers and her family for not taking care of her then?
So is there any diagnosis that comes with losing all rights for potentially the rest of your life?
Psychosis or psychotic symptoms, threatening to harm others or themselves. We don’t know what is really going on with Britney, but there are certainly symptoms that could impair a person’s ability to function and necessitate protection. As for “the rest of your life”… I would assume that things would be continually updated as time went on. With that said, things seem really off with her father and lawyer, and I hope all this publicity gets Britney help and freedom.
When you are dealing with Alzheimer’s/dementia patients who do not recognize their own family and don’t know what year it is, yes, the conservatorship is typically in place for the remainder of that person’s life.
That is not the situation here, but there are circumstances when a life-long conservatorship is necessary for the health and safety of the individual.
Maybe she looks that way because she feels helpless in the face of people who refuse to give her freedom. She may have started needing help but it’s been years and she has vastly improved. At some point people have to be allowed to live their lives. Mental illness is not a reason to imprison someone. Would they have cared so much if she wasn’t so rich?
The telling part was when they were upset that she refused to work and bring more money in.
That part. All money-grubbing leeches.
Brittney has released four albums and did a four year Vegas residency since she was forced into conservatorship. It seems to me her mental health is stable until her doctor forces her off her meds to help Jamie control her.
You’re imagining a lot of things that haven’t come close to happening, at least not that you can be aware of and honestly if any of that is likely should the woman still be performing, have a Vegas residency, and be co-host of a show.
Here is the other part- despite diagnosis, modern mental health treatments that I am aware of advocate for self-directed, person centered care, which is clearly not what is happening here. I can’t think of a single diagnosis that would account for one to be able to perform successfully while still rendering one unable to choose their Kitchen cabinets or their own therapist.
I’m so confused because there’s never been info released about any kind of diagnosis. I know a case where an elderly family member has a guardian because he’s severely mentally ill. Even when he’s mentally well he cannot take care of himself with daily functions or with life decisions. And definitely could not work to earn money. That guardianship has a complete review every year, with input from his psychiatrist and could be changed at that time.
I just don’t understand how she could be stripped of her rights like this without a serious diagnosis, yet still be forced to work like she has.
It’s true that we don’t know the details of Britney’s condition. I just find it suspicious that her attorney has refused to honor his client’s wishes by filing a petition to end the conservatorship. It’s not as if filing a petition would automatically end the conservatorship. It would be a lengthy process. The judge would interview Britney as well as her doctors, therapists, etc. in order to determine whether she is mentally capable of meeting her needs without the conservatorship. And if it’s determined that she truly is not, then that is one thing, but to deny her the chance to even try to get out of the conservatorship just seems abusive.
Also, I’ve been reading some things about her lawyer that make him sound super corrupt. Apparently, he stated that she was mentally incapable of signing her own legal documents, even though a doctor never determined that.
I just feel that something really shady is going on. I’m hoping for a Ronan Farrow type of expose.
Well, I agree with jill. We don‘t know the whole story. Her familial supporters have all said they want what‘s best and for her to be happy, not that her status of needing a conservator should change. There‘s much more to the story. I do not believe that every person involved in the conservatorship AND the judges are all out to get Britney and hold her down. The boyfriend is totally shady, IMO, and I believe ZERO of anything coming out of his mouth. If she were healthy enough to get out of the conservatorship, she could, but she‘s not, I fear. I don‘t believe the IUD thing…
WHAT THE F- this is outrageous!!!
Her dad is an alcoholic with a long history of being abusive. FFS, he physically attacked one of her sons. She clearly cannot stand him. Continuing to foist him on her when there are other options is such a cruel violation.
Two things struck me from the 20/20 piece on the situation a few weeks/months ago… 1). She literally cannot retain her own lawyer (considered not competent enough due to the conservatorship) and 2). Conservatorships are almost impossible to remove (the lady they interviewed said she’d never seen it happen). She’s facing an impossible situation and my heart goes out to her. Free Britney!
She’s constantly exploited. It’s gross. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/l-a-courts-end-remote-audio-program-after-illicit-britney-spears-hearing-recording-surfaces-1234975780/
Y’all need a legal analyst around here:
“the judge cannot make any ruling based on what she said as she still has yet to file a petition to terminate her conservatorship”
The judge merely restated her previous ruling. The paperwork still needs to be filed in order for a decision to be made to replace the conservator.
Bingo
I would imagine that Britney’s testimony will bring her lawyer into the crosshairs of the California Ethics Bar. If Britney is publicly stating she wants her lawyer to file paperwork to terminate the conservatorship, it is unclear to me how he can avoid doing as she directs. I’m a lawyer and if my client directs me to do something, I generally have to go forward with their wishes, even if I think it is a bad idea (sometimes we can refuse based on the circumstances).
Everyone saying she needs to get a new lawyer, to force her lawyer to file to terminate the conservatorship – she CAN’T get a new lawyer. She has been deemed incompetent to manage her own life, can’t handle her own money, can’t even make her own medical decisions. Her current lawyer is paid by the conservatorship that is run by her father. It’s a massive conflict of interest for that lawyer, who is reportedly getting a cushy $10k/week for doing diddly squat. Why on earth would that lawyer cut off his gravy train and file papers to get her a new lawyer or to end the conservatorship? It’s disgusting how many people have a financial interest in keeping Britney locked into this abusive situation.
I wish the ACLU would look into this for her!!
My god, she’s going to end up killing herself to escape this.
I don’t understand what is going on. Jaime Spears said he is not legally allowed to block Britney from getting married or having more children. She was engaged in the past. The other conservator (woman-forgot her name) also claims she can’t legally block her from getting married or having children. If this is the case why does BS say she can’t marry or have kids? Don’t misunderstand me, I believe her! I’m just really confused about why she can’t marry or have more kids if no one can legally prohibit her from doing so.
Not sure where you heard them say that but it is 100% legal for the conservators to prevent her from getting married and having children. They have COMPLETE control over her.
It was a huge discussion when she was engaged to Trawick that he would become her conservator if they got married and how icky that was in principle (I don’t think Trawick was a bad guy tho and I think he would have freed her from it had the marriage gone through).
Couldn’t the state appoint someone, like they do if you can’t get a defense lawyer? It just seems like she’s trapped, and paying for the privilege. It seems like the people who are supposed to protect and help her have more incentives to keep her powerless.
Reminds me of stories I thought were history about how “hysterical” women would be institutionalized by their husbands, fathers, brothers etc.
Or the way Joseph Kennedy had one of his daughters lobotomized because he was worried she would cause him embarrassment and hurt his political aspirations for his sons.
Sam Lutfi is alright waiting for his chance one more time.
I hope that she has people that really love her and that she listens to.
@Mich: That’s what I thought. The conservators are making statements.
JS claims he is only in control of the estate. He says he’s had no control over her person for several years (medical, marriage,etc.). He even went as far as to say that BS was engaged once while he was in charge of her person.He’s saying Mrs. Montgomery (I think that’s her name) has that control and should be investigated.
Mrs. Montgomery says the conservatorship of her person does not cover marriage and children per Probate Code 1900. She even offered assistance to BS if that was her wish.
I believe BS was told she can’t marry or have children. I’m just confused why the conservators are making public statements that she CAN marry and have children. Are they outright lying? Is someone other than JS or Mrs. Montgomery responsible for that?
I thought that Montgomery’s statement was very carefully worded. She did not deny telling Britney that she could not have her IUD removed. All she stated was that conservators don’t have the right to make reproductive decisions under CA law. That doesn’t mean that she couldn’t make it virtually impossible for Britney to get the procedure.
For instance, is Britney able to book her own doctor’s appointments? Is she able to drive herself places w/out permission? She may legally have the “right” to get certain procedures, but if no one will drive her to a clinic, then she can’t really get it done.
Montgomery is *now* claiming that she will offer assistance. It doesn’t mean that she offered assistance in the past.
also clearly they have power over her medical decision as she has been medicated against her will. they might not be able to stop her from “having kids” but if they control the implantation and removal of an IUD, they effectively do have that power. I think they are using a lot of carefully crafted statements to avoid admitting they force/deny certain medical procedures for her to stop her from getting pregnant.
She was engaged before but IIRC there was a lot of discussion about how her dad had to sign off on the engagement and that Trawick would become her conservator after the marriage. There was also a lot of discussion about how problematic it was for her husband to have that kind of control over her just out of principal. Then the engagement abruptly ended— looking back, it seems that maybe Trawick understood/saw that she was not any where near as “ill” as her father/the conservatorship was portraying her to be and once he was conservator, he was going to “release” her from it. IMO once her dad found out, he nixxed the engagement.
My thought is that the conservators would fall back on having to follow “medical advice”. And if she suffered from severe PPD before and is currently taking medication for a condition like Bipolar II etc…and would have to go off of that for the entire pregnancy the doctor’s medical advice would be for her mental health and stability getting pregnant wouldn’t be advisable. There seems to be so many levels of messed up to this whole situation. Something is definitely wrong, I just don’t think it’s as clear cut as she’s 100% ok and everyone else involved in 100% nefarious.
We live in a world where Britney Spears has people controlling her Uterus, but Bill Cosby goes free. Got it.
ISN’T IT GROSS
As James Brown sang, baby: It’s a man’s world.
As long as some women still want a seat at the table, as long as cis women consider trans women the ultimate enemy, as long as the word feminism continues to be a dirty word, as long as we don’t begin a revolution this will still happen. We need to open our eyes, collectively, we’re 51% of the world and we’re sitting here throwing sand at each other.
Stupid rant, but I’ve had enough with this f*cking patriarchy.
I saw this headline last night and my first reaction … horrified. I’m just horrified over this entire situation
I agree with the posts above. This might be “very carefully crafted statements “. This is a heartbreaking situation. Hopefully, since BS made her desires public it will be harder for the conservators to keep this level of control. She’s in Hawaii now. If she goes to an Ob/gyn, can they refuse her request to have an IUD removed?? If so, does this violate Probate Code1900? Sometimes it seems the actual legislation is more problematic than the actual people assigned to “help” her.
If you’re concerned about it write a letter and file a complaint against the attorney with the CA bar.
It would be better to have someone with standing or a relationship with Britney – say, her sister , mother. some kind of professional, friend or another attorney – file but in the meantime you can look up the CA bar rules and write a letter of complaint.
Is the attorney at fault, or are all of them just following the current legislation? I’m really confused by the whole situation.
So long as Britney works she’ll retain the little freedom she has now but just wait, the day she ‘retires’ they’ll lock her up in a mental institution.
This is horrible to contemplate but a possibility. She needs Katie Holmes-level stealth to escape, but trying to do so while under that kind of scrutiny and control of every detail of her life, her medications, everything…
My thoughts exactly. I feel so powerless. I wish I could help her and any other person in the same situation.
@Lea: Unfortunately, I think you might be right.
The fact that there are people still defending this shows how little y’all think of neurodivergent people and women. We’re subhuman to y’all. There’s no way around it.
Get outta here with your ableism and your misogyny. If you aren’t here for mentally ill women’s right of self-determination, your “feminism” is garbage.
Unbelievable that a woman being controlled, under surveillance, being sedated, being denied her reproductive rights, her human rights, and who knows what else, and some of y’all see it as a good thing. For a woman to lose her basic rights over being perceived as hysterical. Is this the 19th century?
Katie Holmes actually used the paparazzi to her advantage. There was no way a cult was going to get to her while she was out and about in public.
I know BS situation is different but the publicity of her plea might help. The Trust just requested to be released. They say her lawyer claimed it was a voluntary conservatorship but after hearing her speak they’ve realized she wants it terminated. They have agreed to respect her wishes.
I feel so sad for her. She doesn’t seem to have a single person in her life that she can trust who has her back. Everyone wants something from her. I wish she would just do a tell all interview and lay it all out, but I know her father has her living in fear of being thrown into another hospital against her will.
Ridiculous laws, that she can’t choose her own lawyers, that she can’t choose to have someone different as conservator, or to only have a professional organisation do it, not family, that’s it’s a public process not private (though she at least seems to be ok with that one). It should never be the parents given control when it comes to mental health issues. There’s a good chance they’re the ones who caused the mental health issues in the first place, they shouldn’t be rewarded with lifelong control over their children’s lives.