Britney Spears has as much agency as a ‘coma patient’ and doesn’t want to perform ever again, court told
Britney Spears. (Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic)
Britney Spears has as much agency as a “coma patient” under her conservatorship, her attorney Sam Ingham said at a hearing Wednesday (October 7).
Spears is currently “trying to regain some measure of personal autonomy”, fighting for a co-conservator of her estate to work alongside her father Jamie Spears, who for more than a decade has had almost total control of every decision she makes.
This week, at a hearing in her case, a judge began asking questions about Spears’ request for a co-conservator, her thoughts about performing again and whether her lawyer had the right to speak for her, according to TMZ.
The judge asked her attorney Sam Ingham to have Spears sign a declaration laying out her wishes so there would be a first-hand account, but was told that this would not be possible.
Ingham said that Spears’ capability to sign a legal document was comparable to that of a patient in a coma, but added that even comatose patients can have lawyers speak on their behalf.
The lawyer insisted that Spears wants to retire from performing, but that her father is adamant that she continue her career.
The judge said discussions would continue at a later date.
Britney Spears has been under the conservatorship of her father since 2009.
Britney Spears was placed under the conservatorship of her father, Jamie, after suffering from a mental health crisis in 2008.
The arrangement, typically used for the old, infirm or disabled, has been scrutinised by disability rights lawyers as one that erodes agency. Those with detailed knowledge of the case have stressed that conservatorships often greatly limit what say, if any, the person under the arrangement has on who their guardians are.
Indeed, Spears attempted to strip her Jamie from the conservatorship with a flurry of legal filings, prompting fans to begin the “Free Britney” movement.
Through her legal counsel, the star has said she is “strongly opposed” to her father being re-installed as a her conservator after he briefly stepped down due to health reasons in 2019.
Instead, in a devastating blow, the courts moved to extend her guardianship through February 1, 2021.
