Britney Spears’ father suspended from popstar’s conservatorship

A judge suspended Britney Spears’ father, Jamie Spears, from the conservatorship that has controlled the singer’s life and money for 13 years.

Superior Court Judge Brenda Penny agreed with a petition from the popstar and her attorney, Mathew Rosengart, that James Spears needs to give up his role as conservator. The move comes as a major victory for the singer, who pleaded in dramatic hearings in June and July that her father needed to be out.

James Spears sought the conservatorship in 2008 and had been its primary controller and biggest champion. He reversed course in recent weeks, asking the judge to end the conservatorship.

Earlier in the month, Britney Spears and Rosengart agreed that the conservatorship should end and said in court documents that James Spears’ removal was a necessary first step.

Furthermore, during Wednesday’s hearing, Rosengart called her father “a cruel, toxic, abusive man.”

“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.”

Meanwhile, Judge Penny appointed John Zabel as the temporary conservator of Britney’s estate. Another hearing will be set, possibly before the end of the year, to consider terminating the conservatorship altogether, CNN reported.

Following her highly public breakdown in 2007, the American pop star was placed under a unique legal guardianship largely governed by her father.

But Spears has become increasingly vocal and public in opposing the conservatorship since a dramatic court testimony last month in which she slammed the system as “abuse.”

In the reveal-all testimony, Spears opened up about her “abusive” conservatorship, asking Judge Brenda Penny to allow her to retain her own counsel and terminate the arrangement.

“I just want my life back. It’s been 13 years and it’s enough,” the singer said in her 20-minute address at the court.

The pop star said that, under the legal arrangement, she has been prevented from having a contraceptive implant removed, despite wanting more children.

It had left her “traumatised” and “depressed,” the mother of two said.

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“I’m not happy. I can’t sleep. I’m so angry. It’s insane,” Spears said.

Even before Spears asked the court to end her guardianship, her loyal fans had mounted a #FreeBritney campaign, gathering outside court hearings and at rallies across the globe.