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.
Scenes from the court house
More images and footage is now emerging now from outside the Stanley Mosk Courthouse in Los Angeles ahead of Britney Spears’ conservatorship hearing which begins at 1:30pm PT (4:30 p.m. ET and 9:30 p.m. GMT).
A huge media presence is already in place, and members of the #FreeBritney movement are now gathering outside to show their support.
You can see some more images and footage from the scene below:
ICYMI: Britney shares top 10 ‘pointers for life’
Earlier today, Britney Spears shared her top 10 “pointers for life” for fans ahead of her conservatorship hearing in Los Angeles today.
The pop star will find out later if the conservatorship, which allowed her father and others involved to exercise control over her life and money for the past 14 years, will be terminated.
My colleague Kate Ng reports:
Britney Spears shares life advice ahead of conservatorship hearing
The singer’s tips for life include ‘Laugh A LOT’ and ‘Cry when you need to’
Fans still want Lou Taylor held to account, whatever the verdict today
Another twist in the conservatorship case emerged this week when Britney Spears’s former business manager denied any involvement in the alleged bugging of the singer’s home.
In September, a new documentary claimed that Britney’s father Jamie was in charge of a surveillance set up that tracked his daughter’s messages and calls, as well as secretly recorded the singer’s interactions in her bedroom.
Jamie says that his daughter was aware of the recordings.
Now, Lou Taylor, who runs the Tri Star Sports and Entertainment Group that was involved in running Britney’s conservatorship until August 2020, has publicly claimed that she was not involved in the alleged surveillance operation or controlling her medical treatment.
TMZ reported this week that her business partner, Robin Greenhill, submitted a declaration claiming: “No one at Tri Star is aware of any hidden electronic surveillance device placed in Ms Spears’s bedroom… No one at Tri Star has ever had any control over Ms Spears’s medical treatment.”
Taylor has also reportedly filed legal documents against Britney’s lawyer Mathew Rosengart, who says he believes the “Toxic” singer’s money was mishandled.
Rosengart had asked to see Tri Star’s accounting covering her last 13 years of involvement in Britney’s conservatorship, which Taylor has reportedly objected to on the basis that the company submitted regular accounts while working on the legal guardianship.
They say that the company submitted a complete set of records containing more than 16,000 files when they stopped representing Spears.
Rosengart, however, argues that Britney was at a financial disadvantage during her conservatorship as “her own lawyer at the time didn’t protect her or her money”.
The Independent contacted Britney’s representatives for comment earlier this week.
Yesterday (11 November), supporters of Spears held a #FreeBritney rally outside the Tri Star Sports and Entertainment building in West Hollywood, California. You can see some images from the rally below.
Watch live outside LA court as Britney Spears' conservatorship is decided
You can watch what is happening live from outside the court house in L.A. in the video below.
The hearing begins at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse in Los Angeles in just under one hour’s time – 1:30pm PT (4:30 p.m. ET and 9:30 p.m. GMT).
The question of a psychological assessment
When Britney Spears first asked to be released from her conservatorship back in June, she said to the judge: “I want to end the conservatorship without having to be evaluated.”
Traditionally, judges rely on psychological assessments when deciding on whether to end a conservatorship, to see if a conservatee has regained what is deemed as their “capacity” to live and work independently once more.
In most cases, a psychologist completes a report and after their evaluations, the report is sent to the judge overseeing the case – here, that would be Judge Brenda Penny.
The issue with Spears is controversial, however, considering that while under the conservatorship, she still continued to perform extensively, earning millions in the process as a global celebrity figure.
Since the first hearing in June, Spears has been firm in her belief that no psychological assessment should take place.
“I don’t think I owe anyone to be evaluated,” Spears told the court in June, adding, “I’ve done more than enough.”
According to The New York Times, there is no public record of Judge Penny calling for a psychological assessment of Spears in this case as yet.
The New York Times also note that Spears’ lawyer, Mathew Rosengart, said of a recent filing that “lawyers for Spears’s father, James Spears, had stated ‘no less than three times that no mental or psychological evaluation is required under the Probate Code,’ to which Mr. Rosengart added: ‘Ms Spears fervently agrees.’”
We will discover later on whether one has been carried out or whether, as per Spears’ wishes, the court agrees that she’s “done more than enough” already.
Jedward are at court in support of Britney Spears
Jedward are at the court house in LA in support of Britney Spears.
The twins shared a video urging the court to “free Britney now” while singing a medley – you can watch it below:
Court updates
The hearing begins in less than 30 minutes now. Anyone else feeling nervous?
We’ll be bringing you updates from the hearing as soon as they arrive.
For now, you can watch a live stream of events from outside the court house in LA here:
A #FreeBritney Christmas tree has popped up outside the court house
Outside the court house, fans are gathering now in large numbers.
On the road outside the court house, a huge “Free Britney” sign has been written in pink chalk, while other fans have adorned a pink Christmas tree with #FreeBritney ribbons in the hope Christmas will come early for Spears today with the end of the controversial conservatorship that has controlled her life for 13 years.
It’s also a reference to the fact that Spears herself put up her Christmas tree early this year.
Alongside a post of a large decorated Christmas tree, Spears wrote in October: “I’m celebrating Christmas way early this year...because why not?!” Spears wrote. “I believe any reason to find more joy in life is a good idea...and it’s no secret that I’ve been through it in the past...so I might have to do things a little differently from now on.”
Now, fans have seemingly put up a #FreeBritney Christmas tree in her honour.
You can see some of the images from outside the court house in LA here:
Britney Spears’ lawyer has arrived at court
Britney Spear’s lawyer Matthew Rosengart has just arrived at court ahead of the hearing which is set to begin shorty.
He waved to fans of the #FreeBritney movement ahead of walking into the court house. Britney Spears didn’t appear to be with him, suggesting she won’t be in attendance as many had wondered prior to the hearing.
You can see footage of the moment here:
At the last hearing in September Rosengart praised the #freeBritney movement and their role in helping to bring Jamie Spears’ role in the conservatorship to a suspension.
He said outside of court: “It’s been a lot of hard work, it’s been intense. I’m proud, Britney’s proud,” he 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.”
The hearing is now underway
The hearing has now begun at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse in Los Angeles with Judge Brenda Penny presiding over matters.
The hearing is closed, with reports that nobody is allowed out of the court room while the hearing is ongoing.
We will share updates as soon as they arrive from the court.
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