Celebrity Divorce Lawyer Explains Change in Judges in Britney Spears Conservatorship Case

[Source: CBSN Los Angeles]

Celebrity Divorce Lawyer Christopher C. Melcher Explains the Change in Judges in Britney Spears Conservatorship Case on CBSN.

Well, today is a huge day for Britney Spears. She’s going before a judge to try and end her father controlling her business affairs. It will happen in an LA courtroom, but Spears will be appearing remotely. In advance of today’s proceedings, the New York Times uncovered court documents from the case.

Here’s some of what was revealed. Her father restricted everything, from whom she dated to the color of her kitchen cabinets, and they say was obsessed with her and wanted to control everything about her; that any mistakes in her spending resulted in very harsh consequences, and that her conservatorship comes with a lot of fear, and she was very angry about how her life was being run.

This morning, we are lucky to have with us celebrity lawyer, Christopher C. Melcher, from top family law firm Walzer Melcher LLP and he’s joining us to discuss what else was revealed yesterday and to preview today’s proceedings.

Now, Christopher, to be clear, you are not representing anyone in this case in the court records released by the New York Times. It appears that she wants control over her own life back. Now, representatives for her father, Jamie Spears, are quoted as saying, “Any time Britney wants to end her conservatorship she can ask her lawyer to file a petition to terminate it. She’s always had this right but in 13 years has never exercised it.” That’s his words. Is that truly the case?

Christopher Melcher: Well, it is right now, Suzanne, true that no request has been made by Britney to end the conservatorship but she is asking for her father to be removed from the role of conservator. I do believe that the end of this might be coming near because she is speaking out now and there doesn’t seem to be a great reason for the conservatorship based on the information we know publicly.

Reporter: There has been a change in judges presiding over the case. The previous judge seemed to side against Britney in all terms but the new judge seems to be more available to Britney’s claims that she can manage her own affairs. Do you think this could help Britney’s case today?

” I don’t know that the change in judge makes a difference but certainly the time does.  Earlier on when this conservatorship started, we saw Britney in crisis, that she was being hounded by paparazzi and needed help. But now, all these years later, we don’t know publicly why she would need this level of protection. This is an extraordinary remedy to have somebody placed in charge of an adult’s life, so the judge will listen to her if she wants it ended,” stated top family law attorney Christopher C. Melcher.

Reporter: Christopher, despite drawing a big monthly salary from Britney’s estate, the article claims that Jamie Spears, her father, is now living in a trailer park. Could his current affairs play any role in the court’s decision?

Christopher Melcher: Well, it’s certainly a lot of work to manage Britney’s financial affairs. Living in a trailer right now sounds sort of good to me, that I wouldn’t mind a different change of scenery so maybe it’s good for his lifestyle, I don’t know. I don’t believe that that is going to come into play because he is doing quite a bit of work to manage what’s a large estate.

Reporter: I guess the final question for you is, how do you think this case will play out in court?

“I’m hoping that the court will close the proceedings when Britney testifies because this is super personal for her. There are mental health issues that I’m sure are involved and to give her that privacy to be able to express herself without it being in a public proceeding, I’m hoping that it will be closed,” stated celebrity divorce lawyer Christopher C. Melcher.

Reporter: That’s what it’s about, you know, also having your privacy and, you’re right, mental health is so important.

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