Maybe capriciousness is just part of Madonna's latest reinvention.

After twice petitioning Malawi's Lilongwe High Court to postpone the final hearing in her adoption of David Banda because of conflicts with promotion of her new album, an attorney for the Material Mama has announced that Madonna has formally bailed on the proceedings and will not show up for Thursday's court session.

To be fair, the pop superstar and hubby Guy Ritchie have never been required to attend the hearing, at which their adoption of the 2-year-old is expected to be formally approved, but had previously—via never-ending requests for delays—indicated that she would be present for the final ruling.

"We are going to court on Thursday, but Madonna will not be there, because she is not coming," attorney Alan Chinula told Reuters, bringing circular logic to all new heights.

"The judge has indicated that he cannot object to her being absent when making the ruling."

Chinula blamed "other engagements" on Madonna's no-show but did not elaborate on the nature of her schedule conflict. (Thanks to her possibly continuing promotional rounds, however, her album Hard Candy debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard charts last week.)

A court clerk said that the singer's legal team had initially requested a third postponement to the court date, saying she had "other business matters to deal with," but opted to go ahead without her present after the judge reiterated that she was not necessary to the proceedings.

By all accounts, the superstarless hearing is expected to be short and sweet, with Judge Andrew Nyirenda expected to formally approve the Ritchies' adoption based on two glowing reports filed by Malawi social workers who visited their London home over the past 18 months.

The duo was first granted a temporary custody order over the boy back in October 2006.