Ruling on Madonna Adoption Appeal Expected Next Week
May 1 2009, Published 2:48 p.m. ET
Malawis top judge will rule if Madonna will get to adopt Mercy James next week as rumors circulate that the Material Mom has already jetted into the African country for Monday’s crunch hearing.
Chief Justice Lovemore Munlo and two other judges will decide Mercy’s fate at a closed-doors hearing on Monday, May 4.
And although Madonna does not have to be present, RadarOnline.com can reveal it’s understood that she will appear before the judges to make a final emotional plea to adopt the 4-year-old orphan.
The multi-millionaire superstar will be hoping that Justice Munlo and his two colleagues will overturn a decision by High Court Judge Esmie Chombo who rejected Madonna’s original adoption bid because she had not resided in Malawi for at least a year.
The decision came as a “hammer-blow” to Madonna who had hoped Mercy would be allowed to leave her Malawi orphanage to start a new life with the world’s most famous performer.
Court spokesman Joseph Chigona said: “This is an important case that’s why the Chief Justice himself has taken special interest.”
Madonna’s decision to try and adopt Mercy has split public opinion in the impoverished African nation that she has only visited three times.
Back in 2006 she successfully adopted her 4-year-old son David Banda from Malawi when she was still married to British film director Guy Richie.
Her lawyer Alan Chinula has blasted the original ruling to block Mercy’s adoption as ‘archaic’ and ‘erroneous’. He said: “We are hopeful the Supreme Court Of Appeal will overturn Justice Chombo’s ruling.”
Meanwhile, Mercy, the girl who has been thrust into the international spotlight, is still living in an orphanage at Kondanani in Thyolo, south of the commercial capital Blantyre, while she waits for the lawmakers to seal her fate. (Photo: Splash News)