Judge Grants Guardianship of Michael Jackson's Kids To Katherine & TJ; Family Drama During Court Proceedings
Aug. 22 2012, Published 9:30 a.m. ET
By Jen Heger - RadarOnline.com Assistant Managing Editor
Judge Mitchell Beckloff gave Katherine Jackson and grandson, TJ, guardianship of Michael 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.
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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.
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