In a first of its kind, the American singer and songwriter Britney Spears on Wednesday has been allowed to choose her own attorney to fight her ongoing conservatorship with her father Jamie Spears, USA Today reported.
The court granted Spears’ request to hire former federal prosecutor-turned- litigator Mathew Rosengart to be her lawyer in the popstar’s ongoing effort to end her 13-year conservatorship which permits her father to take control of both her personal and professional life.
Speaking for 15 minutes in court, Spears emotionally said she wanted an investigation into all the abuse she has undergone. She also reiterating that she does not want her father as co-conservator as she wants to take charge of her own life. She mentioned that she would henceforth refuses to undergo any more medical assessments and called them ‘stupid psych tests’.
“I’m not willing to sit with anybody at this point to be evaluated. I want to press charges for abuse. Instead of investigating my capacity, I want an investigation on my dad,” she said.
She added, “My dad needs to be removed today,” while breaking down during the hearing.
She also mentioned that she wants her state-appointed care manager and conservator Jodi Montgomery to continue in the role.
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Along with challenging various aspects of the hearing, Jamie Spears’ lawyer questioned Montgomery’s stay as a conservator after the singer had criticized Montgomery at the June 23 hearing. He also placed on record his displeasure since The court permitted Spears speak at length. “No one else has been afforded the opportunity,” he said.
“Many of her characterizations and memories are just incorrect,” Jamie Spears’ lawyer added.
Earlier, during the June 23 hearing, where Spears gave a 24-minute long testimony, she mentioned that she was forced to use an Intrauterine Device (IUD) to prevent pregnancy. She said she wanted to take out but she was disallowed by her conservators from doing so. Countering the statement, Jamie Spears lawyer argued during Wednesday’s hearing that there is no fixed order that precludes her from making informed medical decisions.
“I’m not sure Miss Spears understands she can make medical decisions and have birth control implanted or not,” Jamie Spears’ lawyer said.
The court has scheduled another hearing on September 29 to resolve a number of issues including the removal of the IUD.
Following the hearing, Spears took to Instagram on the same day, thanking her fans for their support. She acknowledged the #FreeBritney campaign for the first time while sharing cartwheeling and horseriding videos.
She wrote, “Coming along, folks … coming along !!!!! New with real representation today … I feel GRATITUDE and BLESSED !!!! Thank you to my fans who are supporting me … You have no idea what it means to me be supported by such awesome fans !!!! God bless you all !!!!! Pssss this is me celebrating by horseback riding and doing cartwheels today !!!! #FreeBritney”
Following the June 23 hearing, the Los Angeles Court had once again denied her request of having her father removed from the ongoing conservatorship.
Recently, on July 5, Spears’ long-time manager Larry Rudolph resigned after controversies escalated regarding the singer’s ongoing conservatorship and she expressed an intention to officially retire.
Soon after, Samuel Ingham, Spears’ lawyer who has represented her from the early months of her conservatorship, was asked to resign from that role on July 7, after she claimed he had never told her she could seek to terminate the conservatorship. The court also granted his request to quit.