Ｂ・スピアーズさん、代理人の変更認められる　父親の「刑事告発」希望

【ロサンゼルスＡＦＰ＝時事】米ロサンゼルスの裁判所は１４日、米歌手ブリトニー・スピアーズさん（３９）が、後見人制度の適用をめぐる裁判で代理人に自ら選んだ弁護士を任命できると判断した。スピアーズさんは父親に管理されている現状を「虐待」だとして制度の適用解除を訴えており、勝利へ一歩前進した。（写真は米カリフォルニア州ロサンゼルス郡裁判所の前に集まった、米歌手ブリトニー・スピアーズさんのファンや支持者ら）
　ブレンダ・ペニー判事は、裁判所が任命したスピアーズさんの代理人弁護士サミュエル・インガム氏の辞任を受諾した。これにより、スピアーズさんが自分で選んだマシュー・ローゼンガート弁護士の代理人任命が可能となった。
　ローゼンガート氏は元連邦検事で、映画監督のスティーヴン・スピルバーグさんや俳優・監督のショーン・ペンさんの代理人を務めた経歴を持つ。
　１４日の審理に出席したローゼンガート氏は、スピアーズさんの父親ジェイミーさんを後見人から外す申し立てを「できるだけ早急に」行うとＡＦＰに説明。ジェイミーさんは辞任すべきだとの見解を示した。
　電話で審理に参加したスピアーズさんは、しばしば怒りや動揺を見せ、ののしり言葉を交えながら父親を「刑事告発」したいと語った。「もし裁判所がこれを虐待だとみなさないなら、（中略）何が虐待になるというのか」とスピアーズさんは訴え、「捜査」を行うことや、父親に接近禁止命令を出すことを求めた。
　代理人変更が認められた後、スピアーズさんはインスタグラムに側転を披露する動画を投稿。後見人解除を支持するファンたちが使ってきたハッシュタグ「＃ＦｒｅｅＢｒｉｔｎｅｙ（ブリトニーを自由に）」を付けたキャプションには、「きょう、新しい本物の代理人が認められた…感謝の気持ちと幸せでいっぱい！！！！」と記されている。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2021/07/16-12:13）

An emotional Britney Spears scored a victory in her bid to end her father's control of her affairs Wednesday, as a judge ruled she could appoint her own lawyer to help end a guardianship that the pop superstar slammed as cruelty.
Spears phoned back into a Los Angeles court, three weeks after her first explosive testimony in which she pleaded with a judge to free her from the years-long conservatorship ramped up worldwide interest in the case.
During Wednesday's hearing, Judge Brenda Penny accepted the resignation of Spears' previous attorney and signaled she would accept the 39-year-old's new choice, Mathew Rosengart, to represent her.
Rosengart told AFP on the sidelines of the hearing that he would file a petition as soon as possible to remove Jamie Spears as the conservator -- and suggested the singer's father should simply step down.
We will be filing a petition as soon as possible to move Mr Spears, subject to our formal retention, said Rosengart, a former federal prosecutor who has represented Steven Spielberg and Sean Penn.
Why is Mr Spears not voluntarily stepping down? Rosengart asked. He does not belong in this conservatorship anymore. And we believe he should voluntarily step down immediately.
Spears, speaking to the court again via telephone, was at turns angry and upset -- and used the occasional expletive -- as she said she wanted to press charges against her father.
I'm angry and I will go there, the singer said, even telling the court at one point she thought they were trying to kill me.
If the court doesn't see this as abuse... I don't know what is, said Spears, calling for investigations and a restraining order against her father.
Following the judge's ruling, Spears posted a video of herself performing cartwheels on Instagram, with the caption: Coming along, folks ... coming along!!!!! New with real representation today ... I feel GRATITUDE and BLESSED!!!!
She signed her post with the phrase adopted by her loyal fans: #FreeBritney.
- Twists and turns -
Spears, who rocketed to fame in her teens, suffered a highly public 2007 breakdown -- when the shaven-headed star attacked a paparazzo's car at a gas station.
The following year, a California court placed her under a unique legal guardianship largely governed by her father, Jamie.
Spears swiftly returned to performing after that, released three albums, appeared on various television shows and even took up a Las Vegas residency.
But in January 2019, she abruptly announced she was suspending her performances until further notice.
And then last month, the singer made an impassioned plea for her situation to change, alleging that she had been prevented from having a contraceptive IUD removed, despite wanting more children, and forcefully put on medication that made her feel drunk.
Spears said she had been made to perform shows under threat of lawsuit, and that she was not even allowed to get changed in privacy or drive her own car.
- #FreeBritney -
After that testimony Samuel Ingham, the lawyer appointed by court following her breakdown, asked to step down from his role.
So, too, did the financial management company that was set to assume joint control of Spears' estate with her father Jamie, who remains in place.
Penny accepted both those resignations Wednesday.
Spears's longtime manager Larry Rudolph has also quit.
Spears has lots of public support, from fans chanting outside the courtroom -- who greeted the news of her replacement lawyer with raucous cheers -- to her musical peers Christina Aguilera and Madonna.
At a small demonstration on the Mall in the capital Washington, 34-year-old Patrick Thomas, head of the recently formed Free Britney America group, called the singer's situation archaic.
This is not just about Britney alone. This is about every other person who is trapped in one of these, what I would call a prison, said Thomas, whose group is pushing for a congressional hearing and federal oversight of conservatorships.
- 'Stupid' -
Penny's approval of Spears's new counsel, pending formal confirmation, is a major victory for the star.
She told the judge that she now wants the conservatorship to be terminated without having to undergo any more stupid psychological testing, but if tests would be required she would settle for the simple removal of her father from the system.
Jamie Spears' lawyer did not oppose the new attorney, but told the court that Spears' claim that her father is responsible for all the bad things that have happened to her is the furthest thing from the truth.
Signaling he would not step down voluntarily, the attorney said Spears' father has been there 24/7 for the past 13 years, and repeated a call for the court to investigate the singer's claims of abuse.