A judge allows the pop icon to appoint her own lawyer in a case that has brought millions of Britney fans together in her support.
Singer Britney Spears has won the right to choose her own lawyer to help her end a 13-year-long conservatorship and tearfully pleaded for the court to oust her father immediately from the role of controlling her business affairs.
Her father, Jamie Spears, has been a major figure in the conservatorship since he set it up in 2008 when his daughter had a mental health breakdown. He is currently the sole person in charge of her $60 million estate.
"You're allowing my dad to ruin my life," Spears told the Los Angeles judge by phone on Wednesday.
"I have to get rid of my dad and charge him with conservatorship abuse," she added.
TRT World spoke to journalist Caroline Feraday for more on the development.
Britney Spears wins the right to choose her own lawyer to help her end the 13-year-long conservatorship that controls her personal and business affairs. Journalist Caroline Feraday has more pic.twitter.com/BFAo77NrxG
— TRT World Now (@TRTWorldNow) July 15, 2021
Britney Spears broke down in tears pleading for the court to end the conservatorship. #FreeBritney
— Britney Law Army (@BritneyLawArmy) July 14, 2021
'Extremely scared'
Speaking for about 10 minutes, Spears, 39, said she had always been "extremely scared of my dad."
She said she was fed up with multiple psychological evaluations in the last 13 years and wanted the conservatorship brought to an end without another one.
“I’m not a perfect person... but their goal is to make me feel like I’m crazy," Spears said. Details of Spears' mental health issues have never publicly been disclosed .
It was the second time Spears had addressed the court publicly. Last month she called the legal arrangement abusive and stupid in a 20-minute public address.
After 13 years, Britney finally got a lawyer who will represent her interests. #FreeBritney https://t.co/dkswPAq8o4
— Joyce Alene (@JoyceWhiteVance) July 14, 2021
Los Angeles Superior Court judge Brenda Penny on Wednesday approved former federal prosecutor Mathew Rosengart to represent Spears going forward. The singer's court-appointed attorney stepped down last week.
Rosengart, who has previously represented Hollywood stars Sean Penn and Steven Spielberg, also called for Jamie Spears to step down.
"This not working. We know that," Rosengart said. His first job is likely to be filing a formal document asking for the conservatorship to be terminated.
In June, the pop star complained of being prevented from marrying or having more children, and said she was compelled to take medication against her will.
Outside the courthouse, dozens of fans held a rally, chanting "Free Britney" and calling for the conservatorship to end. A smaller rally took place near the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC.
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