Britney Spears approved to hire her own lawyer, judge rules
A Los Angeles judge has allowed Britney Spears to hire her own legal counsel in the fight to remove the conservatorship. Spears, 39, sobbed over the phone at the hearing Wednesday, accusing her father of abuse and saying she intends to press charges against him.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Brenda Penny also approved resignations from her court-appointed attorney, Samuel Ingham III, and the financial group Bessemer Trust that served as a co-conservator.
Mathew Rosengart, a former federal prosecutor, will represent the pop star going forward. The changes follow a hearing last month where Spears demanded the judge end the court-ordered arrangement.
Spears broke down while speaking to the court Wednesday, accusing her father, Jamie, of abuse and called on the judge to immediately remove him from the conservatorship. Rosengart requested this on her behalf but an attorney for her father declined, saying he "will not resign this way."
Spears, who has put her career on hold, claimed she had been forced to work 70 hours a week in the past and was forbidden from driving for eight months after getting a speeding ticket. She also claimed she's not allowed to drink coffee or take vitamins for her hair.
Later Wednesday, Spears shared a video of her horseback riding and doing cartwheels to Instagram, with the caption: "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."
At last month's hearing, Spears made damning claims against the conservatorship, saying she was forced to take strong drugs and was prevented from removing a birth control device. On Wednesday, lawyers for her father pushed back, saying the singer is entitled to make her own medical decisions, including the removal of the birth control device.
A crowd of fans on Wednesday expressed support for the singer outside the hearing, wearing "Free Britney" shirts. Congressman Matt Gaetz, a Florida Republican, appeared outside with fans, calling for an end to the conservatorship.
Mandy Aracena contributed reporting.