Lawyer: Madonna Has Filed Appeal to Adoption Ruling

Us Magazine - April 3, 2009 9:28 AM PDT
Story photo: Lawyer: Madonna Has Filed Appeal to Adoption RulingMadonna in Malawi on March 30, 2009.Us Magazine
Madonna has already filed her appeal following the judge's ruling that she can't adopt Mercy James, her lawyer confirms.

"We are very surprised with this ruling," Alan Chinula tells Us.

On Wednesday, Chinula told Us he didn't see "any law in Malawi that [could] stop" the adoption. But Judge Esme Chombo cited requirements that adoptive parents reside in the country for 18 to 24 months.

See photos of other stars who have adopted.

Human rights groups -- which had charged Madonna was using her celebrity status to bypass laws -- are cheering the decision.

"The judge has sent the right message that we have laws in Malawi that have to be respected," Undule Mwakusungura, the chairman of the Human Rights Consultative Committee, tells Us.

"We can't just have people flying in and out with our children without procedure," he adds.

Check out the day's top news photos.

In her ruling, the judge points out Madonna arrived in Malawi just last Sunday, and hadn't been in the country since she adopted David Banda, 3, in 2006.

" Madonna may have the best interests for the girl but pedophiles may take advantage of adopting here if we allow procedures to be bent," added HRCC Executive director Mabvuto Bamusi.

But Women and Child Welfare minister Anna Kachikho -- who oversees the country's adoptions -- says she's "shocked by the ruling.

"I don't see what's wrong for Madonna to take one child as her own," she tells Us. "She has not used the back door."

Kachikho points out the singer's organization Raising Malawi is assisting over 25,000 orphans in the poverty-stricken nation.

The country's information minister Patricia Kaliati said yesterday: "We support her adoption process. Madonna 's been good to us...and she's proved she can take care of David."

So why was Madonna allowed to adopt David, but not Mercy?

"It's a shocker, but [Chombo] belongs to the old school; she is very religious and a moralist," a source at Malawi's High Court tells Us. "She might not be in favor of Madonna 's lifestyle of getting in and out of relationships and her semi-nude stage antics."

Look back at Madonna's biggest scandals.

Madonna divorced Guy Ritchie earlier this year not long after Us Weekly first reported she'd been spending time with New York Yankee Alex Rodriguez . She was most recently linked to 22-year-old model Jesus Luz.


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comments 1-10 of 21  |< newest · < newer · older > · oldest >|  hide comments · post a comment
  • ossie
    Who ever said Madonna is the answer to the so-called poverty stricken and loveless Malawi...at least for once Africa has shown she is no groveller....if she cant get a child, i am sure there is a white kid out there living out of a garbage can she can adopt!
    report abuseposted June 11, 2009 7:35 AM PDT
  • Debbie H
    The only person who is suffering here is the child. Here is an opourtunity for her to excel and get a chance to be anything she wants surrounded by a loving family. The only reason he would want someone to live there is either for money to come into the country by a purchase or rent, or publicity that will also turn into some kind of monitary contribution. Very Sad.
    report abuseposted April 10, 2009 12:07 PM PDT
  • michelle r
    Me R: tell that to mothers wo give birth at age 40...i would take her love AND money any day..so pls dont assume madonna doesnt care coz its obvious she gives all her children everything she can offer and has a life of her own to be happy too
    report abuseposted April 3, 2009 8:11 PM PDT
  • michelle r
    if i were madonna, id go adopt some other kid..poor mercy, losing her chance because of malawi's "law"...
    report abuseposted April 3, 2009 8:09 PM PDT
  • michelle r
    stupid malawi; they should be grateful someone is taking an interest in their nation!! and taking out a fellow countryman's chance at a brighter future because of some "law" !!
    report abuseposted April 3, 2009 8:07 PM PDT
  • michelle r
    jersey 12; ur stupid!! the child may have a family, just like david, but they are in an orphanage right? obviously that means the family CANNOT take care of them!!hello
    report abuseposted April 3, 2009 8:04 PM PDT
  • A Country Girl Can
    And as for the girl dying of hunger, look at the pictures its not like you can see her ribs (shes good size for her age). Shes in a home/orphanage that was Madonna's CHOICE to help them build. Not to meniton the lawyer says there are no rules, like haha we can do whatever but everyone else has had to wait for their kids they have adopted there.
    report abuseposted April 3, 2009 12:53 PM PDT
  • A Country Girl Can
    She has family there, why can't Madonna adopt another kid. For once some court stands up to a celebrity.
    report abuseposted April 3, 2009 12:50 PM PDT
  • 000000
    I am so mad , Africa is stupid , sorry Africa I mean Malawi I wont blame the whole conitnent for one Dumb countries so called "laws". This women has done so much for them , she take great care of David ..and they tell her NO! Ok so let the little girl die of hunger and poverty because they want to prove a point. Im sure they should be able to decipher between good adoptions like
    report abuseposted April 3, 2009 12:29 PM PDT
  • Lisa
    Let it go Madonna, pick a diffrent kid so that the country doesn't label you as a baby stealer.
    report abuseposted April 3, 2009 11:53 AM PDT
comments 1-10 of 21  |< newest · < newer · older > · oldest >| 

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