Child Services Seeks Information on Spears Custody Case
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
The ongoing Britney Spears custody hearing is far from being closed, but it was closed for one day November 26. Britney Spears and her ex husband Kevin Federline was not at the hearing. Court Commissioner Scott M. Gordon ruled that the latest in the couple’s series of hearing was closed Nov. 26 to keep information about the proceeding from leaking to the media, according to E! Online.
The hearing was requested after another closed session was held, at the request of Federline’s attorney and following Spears’ videotaped encounter with running a red light.
This hearing focused on a request from the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services seeking access to certain sealed documents relating to the custody case. The department has several open investigations into the Spears-Federline kids and is legally obliged to explore any claims that are logged.
Spears’ attorney, Thomas P. Dunlap argued against handing over the sealed records stating that only very limited information should even be considered for release as the department is so expansive that the likelihood of private information somehow entering the public realm was high. He also argued that the safety of the children was no longer in the jurisdiction of the DCFS but is the courts.
Attorney’s for Spears and Federline have come together to argue against making public information from the custody case. In September however, Superior Court Commissioner Scott M. Gordon ruled that there was a ‘tremendous and ongoing media interest’ in the case and the release of basic information about the case would not pose any immediate threat to the safety of the couple’s sons, Sean Preston, 2 and Jayden James, 1.
On the same day, Spears was scheduled to appear at another hearing to deal with holiday visitation as well as another hearing, again on Nov. 26 and in Van Nuys, where another one of her attorney’s, J. Michael Flanagan argued against have the singer placed on probation for her motoring habits of late. The hearing was postponed until Jan. 2 to allow time for attorneys to negotiate an out-of-court deal. Spears is facing an allegation of driving without a valid license when she smacked into a parked car in August. She finally agreed to pay for damages to the vehicle and the judge dropped a hit-and-run count against her.
