Britney makes surprise appearance in court
LOS ANGELES -- Britney Spears made a surprise appearance in court Thursday after a commissioner declined to rule on her emergency motion requesting monitored, overnight visits with her children.
Spears spent about an hour in a closed court session and then left with her attorneys down a back staircase. There was no immediate indication whether her personal appearance had any result.
The pop star showed up after Superior Court Commissioner Scott Gordon held a hearing and then gave attorneys for Spears and her ex-husband, Kevin Federline, more time to discuss the matter outside court.
Neither Spears nor Federline were present for the initial morning hearing.
"I'm doing good," Spears said in response to a reporter's question as she headed into court dressed in blue jeans, a long dark blue sweater and wearing aviator sunglasses. She sipped from a pop can as she approached the courtroom. An attorney took it from her and placed it on a bench as she entered.
A few minutes after Spears was sworn in, Gordon asked reporters to leave the courtroom and closed the hearing.
The commissioner allowed Spears to keep her dark sunglasses on, telling her, "I understand you have a medical condition." The condition was not disclosed.
Spears' attorney, Anne Kiley, requested Thursday's emergency hearing in an effort to win overnight visits for the pop star who lost custody of her children after Gordon cited her continuing problems with drugs and alcohol.
Kiley argued during the morning hearing that the visits are critical for Spears to bond with her sons, 2-year-old Sean Preston and 1-year-old Jayden James.
"I do think it is an emergency for them not to have overnights with their mother, which they've always had," she told Gordon.
"What possible concern can he (Federline) have if there are monitors present?" she asked.
In ordering Spears to relinquish custody, Gordon did grant her some visitation rights but said a monitor must be present and the visits could be cut short if the monitor decided Spears' behavior endangered the children.
Kiley said that Spears' own mother, Lynne Spears, could be interested in acting as a monitor for overnight visits, and attorneys for both sides alluded to a warming relationship between Spears and her mother.
Although the commissioner did not appear persuaded, he adjourned the hearing for 45 minutes so the attorneys could discuss the matter, then get back to him.
"If, in fact, there are family members who are present and trying to help, that might do some positive things," he said.