Britney Spears news - as it happened: Lawyer praises pop star’s courage as conservatorship finally ends
Relive the day’s dramatic events as Britney Spears’ long-standing conservatorship comes to an end after 13 years.
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After more than 13 years, Britney Spears’ long-standing conservatorship has ended.
At at hearing in LA this afternoon (12 November) at Los Angeles Superior Court, Judge Brenda Penny said the conservatorship that has overseen the singer’s personal life and finances should be terminated with immediate effect.
Back in June, Spears told the court in an emotive testimony that the conservatorship that took over her entire life had left her feeling both exploited and traumatised. Spears requested for an end to the conservatorship without undergoing any further a psychological evaluation.
Today, Judge Penny agreed saying there was “no need for a capacity declaration” of Spears, noting that it had been a voluntary conservatorship. She went on to say: “the conservatorship of the person and estate of Britney Jean Spears is no longer required.”
A conservator will continue to work to settle “ongoing financial concerns related to the case” (via The New York Times) for an interim period but the conservatorship is “effective today...thereby terminated,” according to Judge Penny.
There were cheers outside the court in Los Angeles as supporters became aware of the judge’s decision, which was made following a 30 minute hearing.
Spears will now have a say in controlling her own finances and has the freedom to make her own medical and personal decisions for the first time since 2008.
The #FreeBritney movement are sending messages of support to Britney
At the centre of the campaign to end Britney Spears’ conservatorship has been the musician’s loyal fans.
The #FreeBritney movement was started on social media around 2019 by a small group of fans who long suspected issues with Spears’ conservatorship.
The group have held noisy demonstrations outside court hearings in the case and the group were also highlighted in the high-profile Framing Britney Spears documentary in February, which explored many of the concerns surrounding the conservatorship.
Back in October, Spears took to Twitter to praise the movement following her last court hearing in Los Angeles where a judge suspended her father’s control of her business affairs.
“I have no words because of you guys and your constant resilience in freeing me from my conservatorship. My life is now in that direction! I cried last night for two hours cause my fans are the best and I know it,” she wrote on Twitter.
She added: “I feel your hearts and you feel mine... that much I know is true.”
You can see a video below of Spears’ fans celebrating outside of court when news came through that her father had been suspended as her conservator in September.
Now, many of Spears’ fans are sending messages of support to Britney ahead of the hearing later today.
You can see some of their tweets here:
#FreeBritney fans were “right all along"
If you want to read more about the #FreeBritney movement and why they have been so pivotal in bringing attention to the musician’s case for years, you can read my colleague Chris Stevenson’s article about them here:
Now we know: The #FreeBritney movement was right all along
‘I am traumatised’, Spears said in her testimony. ‘I’ve lied and told the whole world I’m okay and I’m happy’
“Just the beginning”
One of the key points about the last hearing in September was Britney’s legal team’s insistence that her father was “suspended” and not “removed” from the conservatorship at that point in time.
They argued for Spears’ father, Jamie, to be “suspended” and for her financial affairs to be temporarily overseen by their chosen accountant, John Zabel, while her personal welfare was overseen by Jodi Montgomery.
Jamie’s lawyer, Vivian Thoreen objected to the suspension calling Mr Zabel a “stranger” to the case.
However, Britney’s lawyer Matthew Rosengart later said that Thoreen was fighting suspension, alleging Jamie did not want to have to hand over crucial documents relating to the alleged conservatorship abuse or face a deposition under oath. Receiving a decision of a suspension is crucial to ensure Jamie’s alleged abuse can be fully investigated.
One of the allegations centred around surveillance, which surfaced in the recent documentary Britney Vs Spears. It claimed that Jamie had bugged his daughter’s conversations – including ones in her bedroom.
“Mr Spears and his representatives did something unfathomable, unfathomable – they eavesdropped on some of the most intimate communications of my client,” Rosengart said.
Thoreen did not directly deny the allegations of surveillance and bugging, including that claimed to have occurred in Spears’ bedroom, but did reject the “rhetoric” of the “television show”.
Here’s a helpful thread from last month explaining why the court’s decision last month was important for any further investigations:
One Britney fan on social media said today’s result was “just the beginning” at getting long-term justice for Britney, adding “there’s still a long-road ahead.”
The timeline of Britney’s conservatorship
The journey to Britney’s court hearing today has been a long and complex process that’s gone on for almost 13 years.
Here, you can read a full timeline of the conservatorship that explains it origins through to the many court hearings that have taken place this year.
A comprehensive timeline of Britney Spears’s conservatorship
What is a conservatorship and why is Britney Spears under it?
What time does the hearing begin?
The hearing begins later today at 1:30pm PT at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse in Los Angeles.
This is 4.30 p.m. ET and 9.30 p.m. GMT.
Spear’s case is once again being overseen by Judge Brenda Penny and will decide whether her conservatorship ends after almost 13 years.
The streets outside the court are expected to be filled with supporters of the #FreeBritney movement. They have organised rallies and gatherings at all the star’s recent court dates to show their support.
It is not known yet whether Spears will attend the hearing in person.
‘Freedom Day’: Britney’s fans are already hopeful
Britney’s legion of fans around the world are already hopeful that the musician will finally be free of her conservatorship later today.
Ahead of the hearing at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse in Los Angeles, fans have been declaring today “freedom day” in the hope Judge Brenda Penny will finally dissolve the conservatorship that has controlled her personal life and business affairs since 2008.
You can see some of the latest tweets from fans here:
What is the expected outcome today?
Fans around the world are hopeful that the conservatorship that has controlled Britney Spears’ life for the last thirteen years will come to an end later today.
At a hearing in a downtown Los Angeles courtroom, a probate judge will decide whether to terminate the conservatorship that has exercised vast control over the pop superstar’s life and money since 2008.
Legally, all the signs are pointing to the conservatorship finally coming to an end.
With no significant opposition from anyone involved, it appears likely Judge Brenda Penny will dissolve the legal arrangement. Spears’ attorney, her parents, and the court appointees who control the conservatorship all publicly support termination.
Jodi Montgomery, the conservator who oversees the singer’s life and medical decisions, has developed a care plan with her therapists and doctors to guide her through the end of the conservatorship and its aftermath.
However, Penny has not given overt signals to what she will decide, and she has considerable discretion and power. Legal or bureaucratic hurdles, or lingering concerns over Spears’ medical care or finances, could still slow down what might seem like the inevitable end.
It is not clear whether Spears, 39, will take part in the hearing. Fans who have demanded the court #FreeBritney, whom she has credited with bringing her to this point, will be outside the courthouse in significant numbers.
You can read more about the potential ending of the conservatorship here:
Freedom from court could be imminent for Britney Spears
Britney Spears’ independence day may have arrived
Some news from court
Some of Britney’s fans online are reporting that nobody will be allowed to leave the courtroom today until the hearing ends.
Britney Army tweeted: “A new rule has been put in place for today. No one will be allowed to leave the courtroom until the hearing ends. The bailiffs have been very respectful and patient at every hearing and as always we are going to respect them and their rules.”
Britney Spears’ fans are making their way to court
Fans of Britney Spears are making their way to the Stanley Mosk Courthouse in Los Angeles, in anticipation of the hearing which begins at 1:30pm PT (4:30 p.m. ET and 9:30 p.m. GMT).
Many of her fans have been declaring today “freedom day” online in the hope Judge Brenda Penny will finally dissolve the conservatorship that has controlled her personal life and business affairs since 2008. You can see some of the fans on their way to the courthouse here, some of whom have been travelling since yesterday:
Britney Spears shares new post ahead of hearing
Over on Instagram, Britney has shared a new post ahead of her conservatorship ruling in just a few hours time.
Spears shared a video of herself dressed in a tied-off green shirt and white shorts, looking into the camera. The video was soundtracked by Ed Sheeran’s “Shivers”.
You can see the video here:
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