Katherine Jackson, seen here in January, has been reinstated as guardian of the late Michael Jackson's children. MATT SAYLES/AP Photo
Katherine Jackson was reinstated as guardian of the late Michael Jackson's children Thursday.
Jackson, 82, was suspended as guardian of Prince, 15, Paris, 14, and Blanket, 10, last week after she left for a trip, ended up at an Arizona spa and had no contact with her grandchildren for nine days. In her absence, T.J. Jackson, son of Tito Jackson, was named temporary guardian.
On Thursday, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Mitchell Beckloff ruled Katherine Jackson would continue as guardian after an investigation found she was doing "a wonderful job," reported latimes.com. He said the children's cousin T.J. Jackson, 34, would continue as temporary guardian until an Aug. 22 hearing where he will be named co-guardian, as requested by Katherine Jackson and the children, reported the website.
"It's clear to me that the children are well cared for by Mrs. Jackson,” the judge reportedly said at Thursday's hearing. "It is clear to me they love her very much.” He also added interviews conducted by a court-appointed investigator with the children and Katherine Jackson indicated the children have "a substantial, significant" relationship with T.J. Jackson.
The suspension of the original guardianship was brought on by concerns Beckloff had after hearing allegations that Katherine Jackson had been kidnapped by relatives and by other recent family drama which included a confrontation between some family members at the Calabasas home last week. T.J. Jackson had filed a missing person's report on Mrs. Jackson on July 21 after Mrs. Jackson had been out of contact with the children for more than a week.
In court documents filed Thursday, Katherine Jackson said she learned she had been reported been missing after a broken television in the Arizona spa where she was staying suddenly started working, according to the website.
"One morning I woke up to the sound of the television," she reportedly wrote. "While there was no picture, I heard a broadcast that stated I was missing."
The documents also allegedly reported her statements that after arriving at the spa, her cell phone and iPad were taken away and her TV and room phone weren’t working. In a taped interview with ABC News last week , Katherine Jackson, surrounded by several family members, read from a prepared script that said she was not kidnapped. The ABC reporter was not allowed to ask questions, according to ABC News.
Katherine Jackson is filing papers asking a Los Angeles judge to name Tito Joe "T.J." Jackson, as co-guardian, according to a statement released by her attorney Perry R. Sanders Jr.
Here is the statement reported by the website:
"Later this morning, TJ Jackson's attorney, Charles Shultz, will be filing a petition for TJ to be appointed permanent guardian of Michael Jackson's three children. The court ordered that this petition be filed pursuant to the temporary guardianship he granted TJ on Wednesday of this week.
"However, after a very productive meeting yesterday, first between Mrs. Jackson and me, and then joined by Prince Jackson, TJ Jackson and Mr. Shultz, it was agreed by all that it is in the best interest of Mrs. Jackson and the children to file a modified joint pleading at the beginning of next week.
"With some changes, that pleading will essentially now legally reflect how Mrs. Jackson and TJ have often shared responsibilities of raising the children since Michael Jackson's tragic passing.
"Following reaching agreement, Margaret Lodise, the court appointed guardian ad litem for the children, was brought into the meeting by conference call. Ms. Lodise confirmed with Prince that the agreement reflected the wishes of all the children. The joint filing will request that the court reinstate Mrs. Jackson and appoint TJ as a co-guardian of Michael's children.
"If the court grants this joint request, it will eliminate concerns such as the ones triggered by the events of the last few days. It will also empower TJ to take joint legal responsibility for certain day to day duties such as the management of household personnel, including security. It will also make clear for school personnel and anyone else coming into contact with the children that TJ is authorized to act on their behalf.
"TJ has frequently attended school conferences and dealt with school related matters and this agreement, if approved by the court, allows for continuity as sanctioned by the court. Mrs. Jackson will then be freed up to focus on the more personal everyday decision making related to the lives and activities of the children. She would also remain in control of the children's family allowance.
"Mrs. Jackson is extremely pleased with the prospect of enjoying the pleasure of raising Michael's children without the day to day tedium of items such as managing the large staff that goes with such a high profile family and focus her attention on being a grandmother and raising Michael's children.
"She greatly appreciates the recent love and concern that supporters have shown for her and the kids, and she hopes the court will grant this request for co-guardianship. She is eager to simply enjoy her great relationship with these children, while deeding over some of the stressors that go hand in hand with being a guardian.
"Once the joint filing is made next week, it will be served on all interested parties and the specifics of what is being requested will be spelled out in the public record. Until then, no further official comment about guardianship will be made."
