It was another tough day for Britney Spears, who was slammed by a California judge for her apparent heavy drinking and lack of parenting skills.
Judge Scott M. Gordon, who is presiding over the custody case between the struggling pop-tart and her ex-husband Kevin Federline, made some scathing remarks about Spears along with a long list of demands.
In court documents obtained by celebrity gossip website TMZ.com Tuesday, Gordon concludes "there is a habitual, frequent, and continuous use of controlled substances and alcohol by (Spears)."
Furthermore, if Spears, 25, wants to keep custody of her two small boys, Sean Preston, 2, and Jayden James, 1, she needs to comply with Gordon's following commands starting immediately:
- Spears must undergo testing for drugs and alcohol twice a week and at random.
- Spears must attend individual counselling to deal with parenting issues at least once a week.
- She must meet with a parenting coach at least twice a week, for a minimum of eight hours a week. This parenting coach must observe Spears and watch her interaction with her children and her overall parenting skills. They then have to give each counsel a written report by Oct. 22, 2007.
The judge also laid out some rules for both parents to follow regarding their behaviour and responsibility towards each other and their children. These conditions also need to be followed immediately:
- Both Federline and Spears must complete the Parenting Without Conflict program and must engage in joint co-parenting counselling.
- Neither parent can consume non-prescription drugs or alcohol for at least 12 hours before they have the children in their custody.
- Neither parent can use corporal punishment on the children or allow anyone else to do so.
- Each parent must refrain from making derogatory remarks about the other or the other's family, either directly or indirectly, to the kids. They must also stop other people from badmouthing the other parent as well.
- Neither parent shall take the kids out of California without the written consent of the other parent.
According to the documents, the current joint custody agreement between Spears and Federline will not change for now. They are due back in court Nov. 26, 2007.
Spears, who along with Federline did not attend Tuesday's proceedings, got more bad news. On the same days as the court proceeding, Spears' career manager and her lawyer both announced they would no longer represent the singer.
