BREAKING NEWS
TJ Jackson is now PERMANENTLY sharing guardianship of
Michael Jackson's children with their grandmother
Katherine Jackson, an L.A. judge just ruled.
As we previously reported, TJ was awarded temporary co-guardianship of Prince, Paris, and Blanket along with Katherine ... but that was made permanent today.
TJ has received enormous support from the Jackson family to take a guardianship role, including from Katherine herself ... as well as MJ's kids. TJ has been a father figure to the children for years.
The judge told TJ in court to be mindful of the giant rift currently tearing apart the Jackson family -- and asked TJ to make sure the children aren't negatively affected.
As co-guardian, TJ will assume many of the day-to-day tasks involved in taking care of the children -- including management of household personnel and security.
Read more: http://www.tmz.com#ixzz24IwWjA14
Michael Jackson nephew appointed co-guardian
By ANTHONY McCARTNEY, AP Entertainment Writer – 12 minutes ago
LOS ANGELES (AP) — A judge appointed Michael Jackson's nephew on Wednesday to share guardianship responsibilities for the singer's three children, but not without a last-minute effort by some relatives to delay the decision.
Superior Court Judge Mitchell Beckloff named TJ Jackson as the children's co-guardian who will now share responsibilities for raising the siblings, who range in ages from 10 to 15.
The judge made the ruling after considering a letter submitted by singer Diana Ross, who was named in Michael Jackson's will as a potential guardian, and a letter presented by cousins of the singer who sought a delay in the appointment.
Debra Jackson and her son Anthony urged Beckloff to delay his ruling, saying they were concerned that family matriarch Katherine Jackson was being coerced. The pair said they had been ostracized from the family and that the children may not be as excited about TJ Jackson's appointment as has been presented to the judge.
But Beckloff noted that all three children have said they consent to the co-guardianship, and that an independent investigation he ordered showed they "have a very strong, loving relationship with TJ Jackson."
He urged TJ Jackson to consider allowing the cousins to visit the family, but said there was no reason to delay. The appointment means that Katherine and TJ Jackson will share responsibilities for raising the children. If one of them is no longer able to serve, the other would become the children's sole guardian.
Debra and Anthony Jackson declined to speak with reporters after the hearing, merely confirming their names and relationship to the family.
Their letter and one submitted by Diana Ross were not filed with the court and will not be made public, court officials said.
Katherine Jackson's attorney, Sandra Ribera, disputed their claims that her client is being improperly influenced.
"Mrs. Jackson is well informed," she said. "Mrs. Jackson is a strong woman who cannot be influenced by anyone when it comes to decisions about these children."
TJ Jackson, 34, was appointed a temporary guardian last month when Katherine Jackson was incommunicado during a stay at an Arizona spa with relatives.
Beckloff has said Katherine Jackson is doing a great job raising Prince, Paris and Blanket Jackson, but noted that having a co-guardian will allow for continuity in their lives if she is no longer able to serve.
TJ Jackson was a relative unknown to the public before the recent rift in the family. He performs in a band called 3T along with his brothers and was close to his uncle, Michael, before the pop star died in June 2009 at age 50.
TJ Jackson is a cousin of the children and has remained close to them in the years since the singer's death.
Wednesday's hearing had been expected to be a legal formality and although Beckloff made time to hear the cousins' grievances, the judge didn't waver in his view that the co-guardianship arrangement was appropriate. He noted that it is frequently employed in other cases.
The mother of the two eldest children, Deborah Rowe, has indicated she is comfortable with the arrangement.
http://www.google.com/hos...e816932238
Who are Debra and Anthony Jackson?
EDIT: Oh nevermind I found my answer here:
Judge Mitchell Beckloff gave Katherine Jackson and grandson, TJ, guardianship ofMichael Jackson's three children in court Wednesday despite objections from Joe Jackson's sister-in-law, Debra and her son, Anthony, RadarOnline.com is reporting.
During the proceedings Debra, who was married to Joe's brother, Lawrence Jackson, and their only child, Anthony, appeared before the judge asking for the proceedings to be delayed because they had concerns about Katherine and TJ being named as guardians.
"Michael had concerns about certain people's influences on his children.....TJ Jackson and his brothers," Debra Jackson told Judge Beckloff.
The judge wasn't impressed with Debra's claims though and said a thorough investigation had been conducted and it was in the children's best interests that TJ and Katherine be named as co-guardians. It was also revealed during the hearing that Debra and Anthony had been told to leave a party for Prince Jackson because they weren't welcome.
After Lawrence passed away, when Anthony was seven years old, Michael Jackson became significantly involved in his life and was his godfather.
As previously reported, Beckloff awarded temporary co-guardianship to Katherine and TJ after a string of bizarre incidents involving the 82-year-old grandmother/guardian, who was whisked away to an Arizona resort by her children and out of contact with the grandkids for 11 days.
Both TJ and Katherine have signed off on the dual guardianship arrangement, and Prince and Paris are satisfied with it as well. Should something happen to either TJ or Katherine, the other would assume sole guardianship of the three kids.
TJ, 34, is the children's cousin and the son of Tito Jackson. He sings in a band called 3T.
Debra and Anthony Jackson refused to answer questions from the media after the hearing.
http://www.radaronline.co...e-tj-drama
[Edited 8/22/12 12:27pm]
[Edited 8/22/12 13:03pm]