Britney Spears will no longer have her father managing her estate after he was suspended from the position as conservator, in a court ruling on Wednesday.
Judge Brenda Penny moved to suspend the legal oversight of Jamie Spears over his daughter, and designated a replacement selected by Britney Spears and her attorney. The decision means that for the first time in 13 years, Britney Spears’ estate will not be subjected to the oversight of her father.
In the court hearing, Britney Spears’ attorney Mathew Rosengart called the singer’s father “a cruel, toxic, abusive man” and argued he did not “belong in her life for another day”.
“She wants him out of her life today rather than a lingering and toxic presence,” Rosengart said. “Britney deserves to wake up tomorrow without her father as her conservator.”
After hearing both sides, Judge Penny said the “current situation is not tenable” and suspended Jamie Spears from his role as conservator. A Californian accountant, John Zabel was appointed as the temporary conservator of Britney’s estate, as requested by her attorney. Britney Spears did not call into the hearing.
It has been reported that another hearing will be set before the end of the year, to look into whether the conservatorship should be terminated completely.
Britney’s conservatorship was established in 2008, and saw Jamie Spears take control over his daughter’s life and business.
The decision comes after Britney Spears made an emotional plea in court in June, asking the judge to end the conservatorship, and to remove her father as conservator. In August, Jamie Spears reversed course, saying he was willing to step down from his role as conservator.
Before the hearing on Wednesday, supporters of Spears filled the street outside the court house, hosting a rally and chanting pro-Britney chants, including “Hey, hey, ho, ho, the conservatorship has got to go”.
Matthew Rosengart paid tribute to the #FreeBritney movement after the hearing, telling a news conference in Los Angeles that it had helped lead to the suspension of the Jamie Spears.
“It’s been a lot of hard work, it’s been intense. I’m proud, Britney’s proud,” Rosengart said. “I think the support of the #FreeBritney movement has been instrumental. To the extent that it allowed my firm to carry the ball across the finish line, I thank them as well.”