Britney Spears Is Allowed to Hire Her Own Lawyer, A Judge Rules

LOS ANGELES – Judge Brenda Penny has granted Britney Spears to ability to hire her own lawyer, Mathew Rosengart, who attend

ed the hearing in-person today. He was representing the singer, who appeared remotely via phone. The judge’s move to allow Spears an attorney of her own choosing is a major step forward for the pop star, who wants to terminate the conservatorship she has been under for the past 13 years.

“I’m here now today, your honor, to remove my dad altogether,” Spears said. Prior to speaking, Spears had initially asked the judge if the courtroom could be cleared, but then told the judge she was fine speaking in open court.

During her plea today, Spears demanded to be released from her conservatorship without further evaluation, telling the judge, “Ma’am, there should be no threat to me — at all, ever.”

The pop star told the judge that she took psych tests against her will during her “Circus” tour and was forced to get blood drawn numerous times per week. She said that her conservators told her that if she participated in the evaluations, she could have her life back. “I did it all and they lied…they did nothing,” Spears said. “They didn’t end it, and I kept working.” She said she will not allow people to “question my intelligence for the millionth time.”