Britney Spears has been granted the right to pick her own lawyer for the first time in her fight a*ainst her conservatorship. Sam Ingham asked to step down from the role following the pop star’s damning testimony and revelations about the realities of the legal guardianship that controls her life.
Mr Ingham has been the ‘Circus’ singer’s court-appointed attorney since the conservatorship began back in 2008.
Judge Brenda Penny approved his request today (July 14) and has given Spears the option of who she wants to represent her.
The New York Times reports the 39-year-old has now chosen Mathew Rosengart, who is a former federal prosecutor and has represented the likes of Steven Spielberg and Sean Penn.
Following the hearing, Mr Rosengart told reporters: “Jamie Spears should be removed as conservator because it is in the best interest of the conservatee.
“We will be moving promptly and agg*essively for his removal. The question remains, why is he involved? He should step down voluntarily because that’s what’s in the best interest of the conservatee.
“My firm and I will be taking a top to bottom look at what’s happened over the past decade.”
He also praised Britney for her ‘courage, passion, and humanity’ for speaking her court and labeled her te*timo!y as ‘clear, lucid, powerful, and compelling’.
Britney told Wednesday’s hearing that she wants to see her father pay for the conditions he’s imposed on her. According to CNN, Spears said she wants Jamie to be charged with conservatorship a***.
She told the hearing: “I want to press charges against my father today. I want an investigation into my dad. This conservatorship has allowed my dad to ruin my life.”
She bro*e down in tears during her plea and explained how she has been ‘extremely sc**d’ of her father.
Spears claimed she was forced to work 70 hours a week, had her diet controlled, had a birth control device inserted in her against her will, and was force fed lithium to manage her behaviour.
“If this is not abuse, I don’t know what is,” Spears said. “I thought they were trying to kill me.”