Spears was to plea for renewed monitored visitation with sons

By Stacey Silberman

HOLLYWOOD, CA (Hollywood Today) 1/23/08 – Britney Spears got dolled-up today, drove downtown, parked and entered the courthouse through security — and then she had an apparent fit of panic, abruptly leaving the building before reaching the courtroom and abandoning her bid to regain visitation with her two toddler boys.

Spears did nearly the same on Jan. 14, when she made it only to the courthouse steps before an apparent anxiety attack sent her back to her car after passing through the phalanx of paparazzi. “Move back,” she told the mob then. “I’m scared. I want to get back in the car. Just stop it. Let me get in the car, please.”

At the end of the emergency hearing today, Commissioner Scott Gordon upheld his last order, denying Spears, 26, of any and all visitation rights with Sean Preston 2 and Jayden James 1.

However, after that was established, Gordon proceeded with the closed-door hearing, after determining that Spears was a no-show. According to court spokesman Alan Parachini, “notice was taken of Miss Spears’ absence.”

The case was called around 9:15 a.m., with Spears nowhere to be found, leaving Spears’ attorney Ann Kiley to hunt for her client.

After failing to locate Spears, Gordon asked Kiley, “Is your client present?”

Kiley responded, “No, she’s not.” However, Spears was expected by her attorney and the court to attend this hearing. Kiley reportedly spent about 20 minutes searching the halls for Britney.

Gordon then asked if Spears would be present today? “I don’t know,” was Kiley’s response. Based on the attorney’s past experience with Spears, she could not answer with surety.

According to the AP, Spears avoided the usual horde of paparazzi by entering through a basement-parking garage, which is secured.

As Spears was screened through security, she was seen adorned in a black ruffled mini-dress, gold platform shoes, the usual bright lipstick and large designer sunglasses. According to this description she made a concerted effort to attend, but couldn’t, for some unknown reason.

Kevin Federline, 29, came to court as usual, with his new signature mohawk hair-do and a sharp-looking tan suit. He arrived early for the day’s proceedings.

According to reports, both camps filed motions, but none were disclosed at this time. Federline testified briefly after being sworn in by the court, but were mostly yes or no questions, according to the AP.

Federline attorney Mark Vincent Kaplan stated after court that Gordon has now ordered a custody evaluator to look at the case for a report to be completed before trial.

Spears lost her three-per-week monitored visitation privileges after the Jan. 3 police stand off at her Studio City home. Her refusal to hand over one of her children set off a chaotic chain of events for the family.

The behavior clearly violated the terms of her visitation and proved that she was a threat to her two minor children. The episode ended with Spears commitment to the Cedars Sinai Hospital psych ward after police found her to be unstable.

As of now, Federline has 100 percent physical and legal custody of the boys. The next hearing is set for Feb. 4, which will is scheduled for Strope & Strope to withdraw from the case.

The next custody hearing will be held on Feb. 19 and the permanent custody trial is set for April. Perhaps Britney will make it all the way to the actual courtroom this time.