Free Republic

LOS ANGELES — Britney Spears has been freed from her father. And she could be freed entirely from court control within weeks. In a major victory for the pop star, a judge on Wednesday suspended the singer’s father from the conservatorship that has controlled her life and money for 13 years, saying the arrangement “reflects a toxic environment.” Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Brenda Penny agreed with a petition from Spears and her attorney that James Spears needs to give up his role as conservator.

The cause to fight against conservatorship abuse in America has gained a sky-high profile this year thanks to the case of pop star Britney Spears, under a conservatorship by her own father for 13 years. While it appears that Spears’ father will finally relinquish his legal, financial, and medical control over his daughter, it’s not your typical conservatorship case – and the people who are typically trapped in the system are in dire need of rescuing. Our elected leaders must now take steps to correct a broken system that’s been made clear by the case of the 39-year-old pop star....

Celebrity singer Britney Spears may be finally free by her 40th birthday in December after her father, Jaime Spears, petitioned to end his daughter’s conservatorship Tuesday.In the surprise move by her father, who has fought to keep Britney under guardianship for more than a decade, the petition to the Los Angeles Superior Court argues the pop star’s circumstances have changed to the point that the arrangement may be doing more harm than good.“Recent events related to this conservatorship have called into question whether circumstances have changed to such an extent that grounds for establishment of a conservatorship may no longer...

Britney Spears’ estranged father, Jamie Spears, filed a petition Tuesday to end the conservatorship that has controlled her life for the past 13-plus years, Page Six can confirm. Jamie, 69, chalked his sudden change of heart up to “recent events related to this conservatorship,” seemingly referencing court hearings earlier this summer in which Britney, 39, spoke out against her legal situation. Jamie indicated that his daughter’s “circumstances have changed to such an extent that grounds for establishment of a conservatorship may no longer exist. “Ms. Spears has told this court that she wants control of her life back without the...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Citing pressing concerns over Joe Biden’s mental instability after the President got lost in the White House lawn, Kamala Harris has petitioned the judge presiding over Britney Spears’ case for a similar conservatorship of Mr. Biden. "If the judge thinks Britney Spears is incapable of making her own decisions, deciding about Joe will take five seconds flat,” said Ms. Harris. “Just yesterday, the man gave an hour-long interview to a sock. Then he yelled at a parking meter for not spitting out a gumball, and later I had to spend thirty minutes convincing him that Jen Psaki wasn't really...

The ACLU on Tuesday filed an amicus brief in support of Britney Spears as the pop star attempts to free herself from a 13-year conservatorship she called “abusive” in testimony last month. The ACLU filed the brief, along with 25 civil and disability organizations, in support of Spears’ wish to choose her own attorney, which is prohibited by the conservatorship. Spears’ court-appointed lawyer, Samuel Ingham III, resigned from the case last week. The brief, filed with the Superior Court of Los Angeles County, also calls for her to be given access to assistance and tools to make her selection for...

A past and potentially future leading Republican contender for the presidency is weighing in on behalf of Britney Spears as the 2000s pop icon tries to rid herself of her father’s heavy hand in a bitter conservatorship debate. "#FreeBritney," Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, tweeted on Thursday. "I just want my life back," Spears said. "All I want is to own my money and for my boyfriend to be able to drive me in his car. I want to sue my family." During a virtual hearing in Los Angeles Wednesday, the "Toxic" singer gave 20 minutes of compelling testimony in which...

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Britney Spears asked a judge Wednesday to end the court conservatorship that has controlled her life and money since 2008. The dramatic request at a Los Angeles hearing came with her first words in open court in the conservatorship during its 13-year existence. Spears called the conservatorship “abusive,” and condemned her father and the others who have controlled it. “I want to end this conservatorship without being evaluated,” Spears said by phone in a long, emotional and sometimes profane speech, in which she condemned the legal arrangement and her father, who has controlled it for most...

San Francisco officials decided Tuesday to force some people with serious mental illness and drug addiction into treatment, even if it goes against the spirit of a city known for its fierce protection of civil rights. Several members of the Board of Supervisors voiced deep concerns Tuesday about the possibility of taking away a person’s civil liberties, but the proposal for a pilot program passed 10-1. Mayor London Breed and other supporters say the move — known as conservatorship — is necessary to help people who are often homeless, addicted to drugs and have a mental illness, making them a...

The three adult children of radio host Casey Kasem have filed a legal petition to gain control of his health care. The filing says Kasem is suffering from advanced Parkinson’s disease and is being isolated from his children, friends and family members by his wife. The petition for conservatorship filed Monday brought a long-running family feud into the courts. The applicants, Julie, Kerri and Mike Kasem, contend that Kasem’s wife Jean refuses to tell them the name of their father’s primary care physician and they are unable to check on his condition. …