Judge Removes Mom From Control of Michael Jackson's Estate

Los Angeles probate judge rules 2002 will valid and establishes two lawyers as executors, despite Katherine Jackson's objections

The keys to Michael Jackson's kingdom have just been ripped from his mother's hands.

Over the objections of Katherine Jackson, a Los Angeles probate judge today ruled that Michael Jackson's 2002 will is indeed valid and that, per the King of Pop's wishes, attorney John Branca and veteran music executive John McClain are executors of his estate.

Lawyers for Jackson's mother wanted Judge Mitchell Beckloff to delay the decision. One of her lawyers, John Schreiber, argued that "there is concern over handing over the keys to the kingdom so quickly."

Her attorneys also suggested that because McClain suffers from a disability, he is unfit to make decisions on Michael's estate, which is estimated to be worth more than $500 million.

But Beckloff refused, telling Schreiber, "Someone needs to be at the helm of the ship."

Katherine Jackson had been appointed temporary executor last week, when the family still believed the star had died without a will.

But then Branca surfaced with a five-page document written seven years ago, establishing him and McClain as executors, splitting the estate among the singer's mother, three children and charities, dissing ex-wife Debbie Rowe and giving Katherine custody of his kids.

At a press conference after the hearing, Branca's attorney Howard Weitzman said the executors were pleased with the ruling and sent condolences to the family.

"We believe Judge Beckloff made the correct decision. We intend to carry out the wishes Michael Jackson set forth. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Jackson family this week in remembering Michael as a beloved father, son and brother, and as the world honors his remarkable legacy as an artist."

Meanwhile, court spokesman Alan Paranchini confirmed that another will, dated from 1997, was filed with the court, also listing Branca as executor. But Katherine Jackson's cocounsels, Londell McMillan and Burt Levitch, said they didn't expect the judge's ruling to be affected, because the 2002 document would trump any older document.

The attorneys also said that while they accepted the judge's decision to deny their client an administrative role in the estate, they didn't want to be there because of Tuesday's scheduled memorial. (The lawyers had asked the judge to postpone the hearing, but he declined.)

The Rev. Al Sharpton, a close friend of the Jackson clan, had appeared on Good Morning America earlier in the day and expressed similar sentiments.

"I think it has been very insensitive, particularly to this family, that you would even schedule a court hearing on the status of the mother the day before she has to go to the cemetery for her son," Sharpton said. "I mean, it's almost insulting."

Beckloff said he believed Branca and McClain would act in the best interest of the estate and be best equipped to sort through various complicated legal and financial problems, ranging from lingering IOUs and lawsuits to the fate of Jackson's biggest asset, his 50 percent stake in the Beatles' song catalog.

The next hearing in the probate case is set for Aug. 3.

—Additional reporting by Ashley Fultz

(Originally published July 6, 2009, at 9:36 a.m. PT)